Trick-or-Treat Countdown - Hardcover

Patricia Hubbard is the author of My Crayons Talk and other picture books.

Michael Letzig designs greeting cards, gift wrap, and other paper goods in addition to illustrating children’s books.

PreSchool-Grade 1 This counting book takes youngsters from 1 to 12 and back down again through rhyming verse that features items and creatures associated with Halloween. The text is spare: "Five Jack O'Lanterns gleam./Six scary skeletons scream." Each of the numbers is allotted its own page, and is accompanied by a full-page illustration. Since she is aiming at a young audience, the author often points out the fancifulness of the various scenarios, "Haunted house and witches green,/All make-believe on Halloween." While counting down the objects, the text becomes even leaner, "Six scream. Five gleam." The vivid illustrations done in bold colors stretch from corner to corner on each page and the ghosts, witches, bats, etc., are only marginally menacing. While Halloween concept books are nothing new, this attractive title will serve as a nonthreatening read-aloud for the preschool set. Charlotte Huck's A Creepy Countdown (Greenwillow, 1998) counts up to 10 and down again while featuring mainly black-and-white illustrations in an eerier setting. Tom S. Hurlburt, La Crosse Public Library, WI
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