Synopsis
“Watson continues her tour around the holidays, this time stopping at Halloween. The same diminutive characters from Hurray for the Fourth of July appear here, getting their costumes ready, painting faces, carving jack-o’-lanterns. This is a family affair, and each member, including Grandma and Grandpa, spouts Halloween jokes and shivery poetry as the preparations continue. . . . As in her other books in the series, Watson puts much of the dialogue into balloons, probably making this more fun for kids to read to themselves than to hear aloud. A rambunctious rendition of the holiday.”—ALA Booklist
“Watson provides all the fun of the season in her text, while her bright pen-and-watercolor illustrations add another dimension. Full-page and double-page drawings contain conversation balloons of riddles and rhymes. Libraries wishing to add Halloween stories with a not-too-spooky tone will want to consider this one.”—School Library Journal
“A nicely understated change of pace from the more garish books for this holiday.”—Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2-- In her sixth holiday book for young children, Watson depicts the activities of her now-familiar family as they make traditional preparations for Easter. Hot-cross buns are baked, an egg tree is set up, eggs are gathered and decorated, and the Easter bunny's arrival is anticipated. The family walks to church all dressed up, just as the whole world seems to be. Grandma and Grandpa join the family for dinner and games in the afternoon, but the best Easter surprise of all is the birth of five kittens, found behind the couch. The simple text, within a rectangle on most pages, is complemented by traditional rhymes or poems set apart in decorated squares of colors, adding interest and balance. Illustrations of ink and pastel shades are bustling with activity and details of large family life in a small village. A delightful addition for holiday shelves. --Virginia Opocensky, formerly at Lincoln City Libraries, NE