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Sue Bradford EdwardsWriter--Reviewer--Teacher--Historian
FUN OR FRIGHTENING: HALLOWEEN BOOKS SAY BOO! by Sue Bradford Edwards as appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 23, 2002, p. D1, D4
Halloween is a time of frightening fun for older childrens, but for younger kids, things sometimes get a little too scary. Even holiday picture books, with their ghouls, witches and creepy masks, can be terrifying for the under-10 set. For parents--and those generous, reader-friendly grandparents, aunts, uncles and friends--choosing an appropriate Halloween book has its challenges. Part of the problem is the sheer number of Halloween books available in this growing market. How do you tell the too-scary from the just plain fun? We asked a librarian and a bookseller for some help. Their advice: Introduce chlidren in to the world of Halloween books gradually. They suggested three things to look for: series characters, humor, and a "comfort factor." Series characters Books with series characters are often a good choice because young readers know what to expect. "Kids love the familiarity," explained Patricia Carleton, Associate Director of Youth Services & Family Literacy for the St. Louis City Public Library system. "They read the books and see, 'This is something I do and other people do.'" Like trick-or-treating with a good friend, popular characters give children trustworthy companions even in eerie situations. Among the Halloween series titles available is "Clifford's First Halloween" by Norman Bridwell (Scholastic, $3.50, 32 pages, preschool). Clifford is too small for his costume but still takes part in the fun. For those who love the popular Bob the Builder is "Bob's Halloween Party" (Simon Spotlight, $5.99, 12 pages, preschool). Reusable stickers allow young readers to help decorate the barn in preparation for the big party. Fan's of Jonathan London's Froggy will appreciate "Froggy's Halloween" (Viking, 32 pages, $15.99, ages 4-8). Froggy's adventures are a little scarier than some as spooky thoughts fill Froggy's mind as he contemplates which costume he should choose but the company is familiar so children have some idea what to expect. Humor Another sure way to downplay the frightening aspects of a story is with a good laugh. When asked to recommend a Halloween book, Mary Fran Rash, owner of St. Charles' Main Street Books, named "Halloween" (Little Brown, $18.95, 32 pages, ages 4-8) by comedian Jerry Seinfeld. What is the true purpose of Halloween? To get as much candy as possible and this book follows one youngsters pursuit with Seinfeld's trademark humor. A humorous book recommended by Carleton is Dav Pilkey's "The Hallo-wiener" (Scholastic Trade, $5.99, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Oscar the Dachshund must face the other pups in the costume his mother picked out--a hot dog bun. Fortunately one brave act proves what he is made of. Pilkey's humorous artwork reduces the sense of danger that Oscar faces. Humor can even make creepy content bearable as in Rash's recommended "Porkenstein" (Blue Sky, $15.95, 32 pages, ages 4-8) by Kathryn Lasky. In this tale, two of the three little pigs were devoured by the Big Bad Wolf. The remaining porker assembles a new buddy, a gigantic, ravenous pig. And then the Big Bad Wolf returns. Humorous illustrations keep this story light and silly instead of letting it descend into the macabre. The Comfort Factor Books with a warm message can also keep a tale from being too scary. In this category, look for stories in which the protagonist clearly solves his or her problem. "A lot of the Halloween books are actually very comforting like Miriam Cohen's "The Real-Skin Rubber Monster Mask" (Picture Yearling, $5.00, 32 pages, ages 4-8)," Carleton said. In this tale, a child picks out an extremely scary mask but is scared of how he looks in it. Youngsters see a child solve the situation with a quick costume change and a little humor and know they could do it too. Another encouraging story is Ed Boxall's "Francis the Scaredy Cat" (Candlewick Press, $14.99, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Francis is afraid of the hissing monster that hides in the garden on stormy nights. When Francis is certain his master, Ben, has been captured by the monster, he confronts his fears and discovers the source of the noises. Francis's ability to act bravely is both realistic and inspiring. For parents who still worry that a book may be too frightening, Carleton advises, "You know your child best. Parents are supposed to read the books, look them over." After all, carefully chosen books provide safe scares and great fun for families to share during Halloween.
Here are a few books that rate low on the Scare-O-Meter Melanie Walsh's "Monster, Monster" (Candlewick Press, $8.99, 16 pages) for ages 2 up. Young readers lift flaps to search for the hidden monster. The silly tone is well-established long before the book-nibbling monster is discovered. Jarrett J. Krosoczka's "Baghead" (Alfred A. Knopf, $15.95, 32 pages) for ages 4-8. Youngsters wonder why Josh has a bag on his head. What is too awful to see? Funny rather than frightening, he is simply hiding a self-inflicted hair cut. Ed Boxall's "Francis the Scaredy Cat" (Candlewick Press, $14.99, 32 pages) for ages 4-8. Younger readers might be just as scared as Francis of the noises he hears in his garden one stormy night. When Francis confronts his fears to save a friend, he discovers a wild cat and empowers both himself and the child reader. Stan and Jan Berenstain's The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree (Randomhouse, $13.99, 32 pages) for ages ages 4-8. A spooky trees replaces the haunted house as the bears flee a series of physical dangers. Chopping axes and chomping crocodiles may be scary for the very young but the Bears are comforting companions. Rowland-Grey Ellis and Teddy Kentor's "The Scariest Alphabet Book" (Eakin Press, $7.95, 32 pages) for ages 4-8. This alphabet book contains dismembered hands and bloody skeletons which may be too scary for a very young audience. More appropriate for an older audience such as the two ten year-old boys who wrote this book.
Tasty Treats: A few more spooky book suggestions (sidebar) Miriam Glassman's "Halloweena"(Atheneum, $15.95, 40 pages). A funny story in which a grouchy witch is terrified of the human child in her care. When the child, Halloweena, wants human companions, she comes up with her own solution when the witch's attempts prove unsatisfactory. Wallace Edwards' "Alphabeasts" (Kids Can Press, $15.95, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Readers follow rhymed couplets (A is for Alligator,/ awake from a dream./ B is for Bat,/ slurping ice cream) through a Victorian mansion as they discover alphabetically appropriate creatures. Colorful illustrations. Eve Merriam and Lane Smith's "Spooky ABC" (Simon and Schuster, $16.95, 32 pages). Moody artwork and rhythmic poems combine for a dark and stormy alphabet book. Listed as appropriate for ages 4-8, the more chilling poems make it more suitable for the older end of the audience. Charlotte Huck's "Creepy Countdown" (HarperCollins, $5.00, 32 pages, ages 4-8). Simple rhyme leads readers through numbers one to ten then back to one. Detailed scratchboard illustrations capture the creepy mood. Barry Root's "Old Devil Wind" (Voyager Books, $7.00, ages 4-8). A great cumulative tale for reading aloud. The spooky text provides great moments for children to act out— "First, Ghost begins to wail, then Stool begins to thump, Broom begins to Swish . . ." Toni Trent Parker's "Sweets and Treats" (Cartwheel, $6.95, 16 pages, infant-preschool). A simple book of children in costume ready for fun. One of the few new books to illustrated with photographs of African-American youngsters.
Contact Sue. Content © 2005 Sue Bradford Edwards
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