How to spook a ghost

Gr 1--3--This brief story told in verse and cartoon scenes begins with four children, two Black and two white, busily pulling items from trunks to assemble costumes. One of them will be a ghost, and the emphasis is on getting ready. Once all the children are costumed, a quick visit to a decorated door leads to a brief scary moment and an encounter with a young friendly ghost who begs to go trick-or-treating with them. Deciding that the ghost is kind and shouldn't be left behind, they all go trick-or-treating together. The ghost has a final happy word: "I'm a lot like you." The scheme of the book follows that used by the author and illustrator in their "Magical Creatures and Crafts" series. The square volume sets the energetic, simply sketched figures and bits of Halloween decor against mostly white space in spreads. Text runs across at varied levels, with several scenes including a bottom corner framed bit of advice on creating a ghost costume. End materials include a history of Halloween over several pages and instructions for making ghost costumes and puppets. The quickly told, truncated story will seem cute to some adults, and the familiar contemporary comic look will be of momentary interest to children. The costume emphasis suggests its place on library shelves. VERDICT Practical seasonal material where more is needed.--Margaret Bush

Having covered Thanksgiving, Christmas, unicorns, and more, Fliess now turns to Halloween for the latest in her crafty how-to series. A group of diverse children prepares for the holiday and then starts trick-or-treating against background tones of orange, black, pale green, and purple. Upbeat text in verse encourages readers to pick a costume such as a mermaid, princess, knight, monster, cat, or bat. When the children hear a noise coming from upstairs, they decide to investigate. What if they encounter something scary? One child dresses up as a ghost; accompanying instructions tell readers how to create their own ghost costume. Everyone is taken aback to meet a real ghost, but the ghost turns out to be "CUTE and KIND" and begs to join in, claiming, "I'm a lot like you!" Agreeing ("we wouldn't want to leave someone behind"), the kids set off, and there's enough candy and fun for all. The trick-or-treating takes place in flat, unspecific settings; doors (and pages) are enthusiastically decorated with stars, skulls, headstones, spiderwebs, and jack-o'-lanterns. The last three double-page spreads detail the history of the holiday, its introduction to the U.S. by Irish immigrants, the traditions of trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving, and instructions for making a ghost costume or puppet out of a tattered sheet--much better than the dubious directions given earlier (trace a circle where?). (This book was reviewed digitally.) A lively celebration of a popular holiday with some craft ideas and history. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.