Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
Overview
Over in the forest Where the trees hide the sun Lived a big mommy monster And her little monster one.
"Scare!" said the mommy;
"I scare," said the one.
So he scared and he scampered Where the trees hide the sun.
From monsters to ghosties to goblins, everyone's favorite beasties haunt and howl and rattle their way through their forest home in this silly, spooky twist on the beloved nursery rhyme "Over in the Meadow."
Author Pamela Jane and New York Times bestselling illustrator Jane Manning have created a delicious Halloween treat for readers to enjoy.
Editorials
Publishers Weekly
In a gently spooky spin on “Over in the Meadow” that counts up to 10, various ghouls and beasts groan, swoop, and haunt. Jane has fun playing within the nursery rhyme’s parameters, whether peeking in on a family of zombies (“ ‘Stare!’ said the mommy; ‘We stare,’ said the three”), howling werewolves (dressed in patchwork overalls), or a rattling “father skeleton/ And his little skellies eight.” Manning’s quirky and expressive monster families are 10 kinds of cute. Ages 3–7. (Aug.)Kirkus Reviews
Numerous titles interpreting "Over in the Meadow" have been published, but trust the team of Jane and Manning to conjure up an impressive new vision in time for Halloween.
Set in a fantastical land dominated by watery blues, greens and grays and punctuated by warm reds and yellows, Manning's tale presents ethereal ghosts, country-bumpkin werewolves, parading mummies, screeching witches, happy bats and boogieing skeletons that readers will instantly want to have as friends. The preschool set should find comfort in seeing how loving and attentive the ghoulish moms and dads are with their offspring. Parents may see a bit of themselves here as well. (Mothers, especially, may chuckle at the staring zombie mom pictured in disheveled attire with her tongue hanging out.) Even though this is essentially a counting rhyme, the author elevates the reading and listening experience with interactive rhyming text that is rich with alliteration and strong action words: The monster "scared and he scampered," ghosts "hid and they haunted," witches "crowed and they cackled" and bats "swooped in the shadows." The story begins and ends with the green-horned monster mommy and her little monster one—" 'Trick or treat?' asked the mommy; / 'Treat!' cried the one. / So they skipped off together / For some Halloween fun!"
Truly satisfying. (Picture book. 3-6)
Pamela Paul
…should endure well past Oct. 31. Beginning with its opening…readers are rewarded with ample humor and wit.—The New York Times Book Review