Trick or treat, Marley!

Marley's family is hosting a Halloween party, which means lots of opportunities for the puppy to get into trouble in this nostalgic addition to Grogan's bestselling series. Getting his head stuck in a pumpkin is just the beginning: Marley bobs for apples, steals the tail on the donkey, and gobbles all of the candy. Though there's little subtlety in the story or art, Marley's shenan-igans should continue to charm dog-lovers. Ages 3-8. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

K-Gr 1-In this picture book, Marley is up to some new tricks. While Cassie, Baby Louie, and their mother are decorating the house for a party, the pup manages to get his head stuck in a pumpkin, pop the balloons, and tear streamers into confetti. His next stop-the doghouse. He is granted a second chance at attending the party by Dad, but Marley is Marley and he gets into plenty of mischief again, including eating candy, which makes him sick. When it's time to go trick-or-treating, he stays behind and holds the basket for the kids who come to visit Cassie's house. The colorful illustrations are awash with energy. On one spread, as the pumpkin comes apart after Marley smashes into a wall, he looks as if he's about to jump off the page and into readers' laps. Purchase if other books in this series are popular, or to add to Halloween collections.-Anne Beier, Hendrick Hudson Free Library, Montrose, NY (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.