Monstrously Fun
Picture books for Halloween & in between
By Karyn M. Peterson -- Playthings, 9/1/2008
After the back-to-school rush, the familiar sights and sounds of Halloween are quick to follow, with little ghosts, goblins and other things that go bump in the night soon lurking around every corner. This year, add literary flair to your fall displays with quirky new picture books, most of which offer more than fleeting treats for life beyond the season.
In Trick or Treat on Monster Street, written in playful verse by Danny Schnitzlein and humorously illustrated by Matt Faulkner, a boy overcomes his fears with the unlikely help of some fiendish new friends. ($16.95) Peachtree Publishers, Atlanta
Walter Wick, co-creator of the I Spy series, is back in action this fall with On a Scary Scary Night, the newest of his distinctive Can You See What I See? titles. This latest hardcover is filled with complex photographic scenes, providing hours of spooky search-and-find fun. ($13.99) Scholastic, New York
Vunce Upon a Time, from author J. Otto Seibold and illustrator Siobhan Vivian—the duo behind Olive the Other Reindeer—is the tale of Dagmar, a shy, candy-loving, vegetarian vampire, who ventures out into the human world in search of yummy Halloween treats. ($16.99) Chronicle Books, San Francisco
Monsters: The Hunt and the Capture, from David and Bobbi Weiss, with illustrations by David Deen, is a new edition to the innovative Groovy Tube book-plus series. The 24-page book about the world’s deadliest monsters, from Cthulhu to the Yeti, comes packaged with a Monster Hunter Game board as well as 15 detailed monster figures. ($19.99) Innovative Kids, Norwalk, Conn.
In Monsterology, the latest release in his popular “ology” series, Dugald A. Steer, writing as Ernest Dr. Drake, investigates mythical creatures of every stripe (and spot and scale). Its deluxe, interactive design offers lots of pull-outs, flaps and booklets, plus a secret compartment of treasures. ($19.99) Candlewick Press, Cambridge, Mass.
Cambria Evans’ Bone Soup is a clever take on the oft-told Stone Soup story, starring one very hungry little skeleton. When visiting a new town on Halloween, Finnigin is more than ready for the grand feast—but how can he convince the town’s residents to share their food with him? ($16.00) Houghton Mifflin, Boston
In There’s No Such Thing As Ghosts, Belgian author and illustrator Emmanuelle Eeckhout weaves a captivating tale about a big, strange old house and a child desperate to catch one of the ghosts that haunts it. Stylized illustrations and a side story (in which the readers can see what the child does not) add to its family-friendly appeal. ($13.95) Kane Miller, La Jolla, Calif.
