I got the spooky spirit

PreS-Gr 1--Following up on earlier collaborations, including I Got the Christmas Spirit and I Got the School Spirit, the author and illustrator team present another entertainingly rhythmic story that invites listener participation. In an urban setting, a young Black girl eagerly prepares for Halloween. As leaves fall and pumpkins appear on the streets, the girl chooses a pumpkin so large that the illustration spills outside of the page. She then sets to work, carving it into a jack-o'-lantern. Decorating the house, making spooky treats, and, of course, planning the perfect costume are all part of the preparations. Rhymes keep the text moving along briskly, with accent phrases such as "A-ha!" "Ooey Gooey," and "Jeepers Creepers!" added into each illustration for emphasis. The big night finally arrives, and costumed friends and family enjoy trick-or-treating and gathering for a lively party. The spooky spirit keeps everyone going, then fades as the night ends. By that time, the illustrations have taken on a darker, but never frightening, tone--even as the girl who had dressed as a vampire confronts what might be a real bat! VERDICT This festive frolic is perfect for a younger audience who like the idea of scary more than they want actual scares.--Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst

Following I Got the Rhythm (2014), I Got the Christmas Spirit (2018), and I Got the School Spirit (2020), this husband-and-wife team keep the soulful vibes going with an ode to Halloween. "I got the spooky spirit," declares the young Black protagonist, hair in Afro puffs. The child whips up "a bubbling batch of brew," decorates the house, dons a frightening costume ("complete with "BOO-licious face, FANG-tastic teeth, and witchy purple hair"), goes trick-or-treating, and bobs for apples and cuts loose at a Halloween party before going home…to eagerly anticipate the return of spooky season. This rollicking picture book features rhythmic, alliterative text that speaks to the senses. Setting the mood from the start, "a cool breeze blows crunchy leaves to the ground," while "globs of stringy guts fall to the ground" as the child carves a pumpkin. Morrison's signature oil paintings serve up all the exuberance, movement, and color that his fans have come to expect from his work. Making wonderful use of perspective, his detailed scenes each tell a story as younger siblings dart by in the background and trick-or-treaters stride by, decked out in their finest. Characters are racially diverse. Festive, spine-tingling fun. (Picture book. 3-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.