Trick-or-treating in the city

K-Gr 3--A look at how Halloween is celebrated in a great, diverse metropolis. Janelle, a young girl with brown skin, finds herself in a quandary when the family's spooktacular night of fun in the suburbs is canceled. She is faced with much uncertainty on where exactly to enjoy festivities within her urban landscape: "No one on her block really celebrated Halloween." Dreams of seeing spooky houses while going door to door for candy seem completely dashed, until Janelle's streak of inquisitiveness leads her to discover where she can go to spend a "boo-tiful," fun-filled night with friends. Jackson, a Brooklyn native, and Cloud take readers on a colorful autumn journey to depict what trick-or-treating looks like for young, costumed city dwellers who traverse main avenue merchants, bodegas, and high-rise complexes for candy. This story successfully demonstrates how a densely populated city of strangers becomes a community during Halloween to safeguard youthful masqueraders. VERDICT A positive and realistic story that showcases urban holiday tradition and culture.--Kimberly Filmore

An upbeat young New Yorker finds a way to have a happy Halloween. Janelle has her doctor costume, her trick-or-treat bucket, and a pumpkin ready to be carved. Usually, her mother drives her to the suburbs to trick-or-treat, but this year, both her parents are working. At school, Janelle asks her friends how they'll be celebrating. Niko tells her that he trick-or-treats in his cousin's 30-story building, while Nayara walks down Court Street, where shop owners pass out treats--including, in true New York City fashion, mini-bagels. That night, as they carve their pumpkin, Janelle's father tells her that when he was a child, he stayed home out of fear of "real monsters." Some of his neighbors opted to stay home even when his community tried to have a safe candy-sharing and costumed event at the nearby playground. YA novelist Jackson conveys the pleasures of Halloween while acknowledging that, due to safety reasons, many city dwellers find their own ways to observe the holiday. Janelle's compromise--giving out candy from her dad's store--is a realistic and, ultimately, joy-filled solution. Cloud's soft cartoon artwork depicts an urban neighborhood full of supportive residents and business owners. Janelle, Niko, and Nayara present Black; their community is diverse. In a sea of trick-or-treat books, this one keeps it real. (Picture book. 4-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.