Review by Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Monsters galore show up at a spooky castle for a whimsical Madcap Monster Ball. There are werewolves hustling, zombies bustling, mummies doing the mamba, and wicked witches, the waltz. Upstairs seven knights with unusual names are awakened at various times and join in the fun. At the same time, a young prince investigates the commotion. A wild and crazy time is had by all with the final spread picturing the knights back in their places dreaming of next year's ball. The prince is asleep in his bed. The cartoon illustrations perfectly catch all of the high-flying whimsy with small figures dancing and whirling across each double-page spread. When the ball begins, the illustrations are monochrome, but when the seven knights join in, the style changes and more color is added. To enhance the surreal and chaotic nature of the story, many art styles are used on each page, but it all works fantastically well. Readers will want to return so as not to miss any of the amusing details. Great for Halloween or any time spirits need a lift.--Enos, Randall Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
It's midnight and all the mischievous spirits that haunt the castle are in a partying mood: Wizards wiggle!/ Ghostlings giggle!/ Demons do their thing! As the party progresses, seven knights (whose names include Sir Loin and Sir Prize) find themselves unable to resist the siren call to get jiggy. Wheeler and Siegel (who previously collaborated on Seadogs) have created a entire population of lively characters, from go-go goblins to mummies and serpents that mambo and samba. In a pictorial subplot, two reader surrogates--a little prince who nervously spies on the action and a winsome ghost princess who emerges from a painting--find each other and become dance partners. Siegel's artistic versatility is equally impressive and fun: his drawings range from doodled portraits that seem ripped from a sketchpad to handsome chiaroscuro vignettes that slyly spoof the gothic aesthetic. A freewheeling rhyme scheme and judicious use of color amp up the party atmosphere, though the text and visual elements don't always come together cohesively and can compete to be a focal point. Still, this romp is a cut abovestandard Halloween fare. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-5-There's a shindig brewing at the castle one night, as werewolves, zombies, mummies, and all manner of creepy characters make their way through silent halls to the Madcap Monster Ball. The stronghold's seven sibling knights, posed in full armor in an impressive row, supposedly stand guard, but are actually fast asleep. One by one, each warrior is stirred by the commotion and leaves his post to check out its cause-only to find himself joining in the fun and dancing the night away. Wheeler's rhythmic text is filled with taut rhymes, alliteration, and vivid images. The raucous verses detail the events and spirit of the upbeat party with lively zeal, while the narrative's wordplay makes it worthy of repeated readings. Puns and double entendres abound ("Forced, Sir Ender/just gives in./Lone Sir Vivor/(that's his twin)/feels the music/in his soul,/kicks up his heels.../'Let's rock 'n' roll!'"). Done in charcoal, pencil, and Photoshop, Siegel's sophisticated, graphic-novel-style artwork also demands a second look. There are plenty of visual story lines to follow as a wide-eyed young prince, anxiously clutching a candle and teddy bear, spies on the action, and a smiling portrait princess escapes from her painting to try and befriend the frightened boy. Sepia tones, splashes of color, silhouettes, and outline sketches cleverly underscore the plot elements and keep the pages interesting. Kids will eat this one up and beg for more.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
"It is midnight, / and the moonlight's / shining down upon the moors / while the rascals / in the castle / jangle chains and rattle doors." This line launches a pitch-perfect Halloween-time poem that begins and ends with seven knights sleeping. A small, bug-eyed prince with a rakishly tilted crown watches agog from behind castle columns as werewolves hustle, zombies bustle, mummies mamba and serpents samba. "Upstairs, unawares," six of the knights are sleeping. The seventh, aptly named Sir Veillance, awakens first and heads downstairs to join monsters mashing, bogeys bashing and the like. No one expects Sir Prize to show up. (Ha!) The pun-ishment continues: " 'It's getting late,' tough Sir Loin states. 'Our honor is at stake.' " Knight after knight wakes up to join the giddy dance. By midnight, all seven are cavorting merrily, and even the bug-eyed prince is twirling about with a ghostly princess. Siegel's tinted charcoal-and-pencil illustrations are charming and fun, and the energetic design is as movin' and groovin' as a Madcap Monster Ball should be. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
