Neighborhood ghouls and goblins get down at the "spooky, scary once-a-year" Halloween party in Shute's toe-tapping picture book. A mother and son are seen putting the final touches on their costumes before heading out to the celebration. As the "freaky, friendly, fabulous" fiesta kicks into high gear at midnight, all the guests take off their masks-and mother and son reveal a slightly shivery surprise. Shute's zippy rhyming verse spurs young revelers on, losing pace only in a few spots, and the comical finale adds extra zest to the proceedings. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 2-A little boy and a woman don a Dracula and witch costume and walk down spooky streets, "...Past jack-o-lantern eyes that glow/Through pools of mist that swirl and flow/To the daunting, haunting, hair-raising Halloween party." Once there, they eat, play games, make music, and form a marching band. Then, it's time to remove the masks, and everyone is horrified that the the two really are...Dracula and a witch! The story ends with the woman flying home on her broomstick, holding the boy by the hand. Like the best mysteries, the surprise doesn't come out of nowhere-it's there for everyone to see-if they notice it, and sharp-eyed children will see that, at the very beginning of the book, the main characters' silhouettes give a clue to their true identities. On the whole, the writing is vivid and smooth, although the verse occasionally sounds rather utilitarian and strained. The pictures are a treat; colorful and fun, they show both the expected (the pirates, devils, ghosts) and the unexpected (a chicken with a saxophone, a chair without back legs, and a manacled arm). Shute's use of black as a background is very effective, as are her compositions and use of light and shadow. An enjoyable holiday title.
Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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