On Halloween Night (Paperback)

by Ferida Wolff (Author), Dolores Kozielski (Author), Dolores Avendano (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
A creepy counting lesson lies before readers who dare to take this picture-book journey through some haunted woods. Two boys follow a luminescent trail that leads past one witch stirring her brew, two cats clawing in a garbage can, three owls on the hunt, and so on, until they finally meet up with 13 prankish ghosts in the schoolyard. While the premise here seems harmless, Avenda?o's watercolors are realistic enough to make the doings seem a bit scary. Wolff and Kozielski use lots of vivid imagery, which Avenda?o brings to life in smoky nighttime tones of gray and brown. Unfortunately, the pace of the verse is often clunky, with a repeated line, "oo-oo-oo-ooh," clumsily tacked on. Ages 4-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 1-A Halloween counting book told in rhyme with a refrain ("Oo-oo-oo-ooh") that youngsters will love. Two children hover in the background of each scene, watching various spooky sights from familiar holiday images ("One witch stirs/Up a bubbling pot ...") to others that are fresh ("Five snakes slink/Over autumn leaves..."). Meanwhile, a sinuous, cloudy white shape leads the eye from page to page. This shape gains substance in the last rhyme: "Thirteen ghosts haunt/At the old school yard..."), and the story ends with a resounding "BOOOOOO!" The writing is melodious, with words that go together just right. This would make a great read-aloud, either individually or to a group. And the illustrations are stunning; soft, earthy colors and graceful lines convey a real sense of mystery. The dust jacket shows Avenda?o's skill with light and shadow, detail, and perspective. She is an artist to watch.
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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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperTrophy (September 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688154824
• ISBN-13: 978-0688154820
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,614,440 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars If it weren't for the illustrations....., September 18, 2006

By	Cady Hayden "Children's Book Author" (Bergenfield, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

The eerie life-like pictures in this book are exquisite. Dolores Avendano keeps your interest in this book when the words fail. She hides two little kids on each page whom are fun to look for and find. This is a poetic counting book from 1 to 13 in honor of Halloween. Every page ends with '...on halloween night. Oo-oo-oo-ooh.' Even though a few of the words change from page to page, the repitition is boring and uneventful.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's Halloween! Let's Count To 13!, February 26, 2002

By	Terrie (Little Chute, WI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This is a counting book with text that rhymes. In that way it is like so many others before it. What I like about this book are the illustrations. The story begins with one witch stirring her big black cauldron as an owl looks on from a bare branch overhead and it progresses throughout Halloween Night all the way up to magical number 13 with wonderful evocative pictures that capture the essence of this mysterious autumn night. Meet nocturnal animals such as black cats, wolves and bats going about their secret business. The pictures are spooky but not too frightening. Most of the pictures have to do with real wild creatures like bears, snakes, toads and ravens and even bugs but there is also a ghostly counting experience within these pages. I just love the illustrations and I think this is an original idea that makes a nice variation from the often overly sweet counting books that are out there. I am giving it only four stars because the rhymes are sometimes forced, because it shows toads hopping into the water like frogs, and because it uses animals like goats, rabbits and bears that don't really have much to do with a Halloween theme. I don't think kids will mind that at all though and the pictures are fun.