Frankenstein doesn't wear earmuffs!

Assembling a Frankenstein's monster costume and preparing to set out trick-or-treating, a boy imagines he is the towering, foreboding figure of lore, but his father interrupts his reverie: "Not so fast there, Frankenstein./ Those clouds are looking iffy./ So take my old galoshes here;/ they're waterproof and spiffy." Text and pictures slyly jump between imaginary and the real settings, revealing the legendary Frankenstein looking none too happy in "giant red and floppy boots" and then further disgruntled after he dons the puffy orange parka, striped scarf, and fuzzy earmuffs that the boy's mother insists he wear (she also stuffs a fanny pack with emergency supplies--including reflective underpants). The boy-turned-monster finally snaps, screaming the titular assertion, and proceeds outdoors sans warm accessories, with droll and chilly results. Loren doesn't miss a beat in his gleaming picture book debut, synchronizing perky verse with equally hilarious digital art to deliver a genuine Halloween treat that is, at last, "warm and toasty." Ages 4--8. (July)

Even monsters need help in nasty weather. It's Halloween; a boy dons his Frankenstein's-monster get-up. But whenever he tries to step outside, his parents stop him to hand over inclement-weather duds: galoshes, scarf, parka, earmuffs. By his third attempt, he's burdened with a camping lamp, fanny pack, and snack. The kid finally roars, "FRANKENSTEIN DOESN'T WEAR EARMUFFS!" and exasperatedly chucks everything. Finally outdoors, he sees costumed kids bundled up. Conceding his parents were right, the kid gratefully accepts the warm clothes, then joins fellow tricksters. This humorous tale establishes a rollicking pattern, juxtaposing opening atmospheric, holiday-themed rhymes accompanied by spooky, painterly illustrations with a more cartoony style for the rhyming admonitions from the boy's parents when adding to his wardrobe. The dark verses are interrupted strategically with page turns introduced by capitalized grown-up warnings in speech balloons: "HOLD IT!" When the spooky rhymes/illustrations resume, they comically depict/describe Frankenstein wearing his newly acquired garb, then eventually cease altogether when the verses describe only kid, accoutrements, and his unprotected misery outdoors. Fortunately, his parents have followed with the necessary gear. Neither they nor other adults join the trick-or-treaters, however, a depiction of adult concern that some may wish had been included. The bouncy rhymes read and scan well; the humorous, energetic artwork very ably serves the text. The boy and parents (the grown-ups are faceless) have brown skin; other youngsters are diverse. An unusual, funny take on the typical Halloween story--and a reminder to dress appropriately. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.