Book Review: 'Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat' by Tracy Gold

✰✰✰✰✰ Follow an adorable little bat as it goes "trick-or-treating" to find yummy bugs to munch on. He searches high and low to find the crunchy Halloween treats up in the sky and down on the ground. With large print and rhyming words, this book is perfect for kiddos just learning to read.

The Bottom Line: This adorable little picture book with rhyming verse and digitally created full color art is sure to please little ones. It's just so cute and a tiny bit spooky. And as an added bonus, the back of the book features several pages with awesome facts about bats. Check out this super adorable book for some seasonal, fall fun.

Details: Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat words by Tracy C. Gold & pictures by Nancy Leschnikoff. Hardcover picture book published by Sourcebooks Explore in 2021. 40 p. ISBN: 978-1-7282-3329-1 

Book Review: 'How to Scare a Ghost' by Jean Reagan

✰✰✰✰ Chock full of tips for those wanting to scare a ghost, young readers will find information ranging from attracting a ghost to making sure it is real to playing with a ghost and more. There’s even tips for things you can do with your ghost and going trick-or-treating with your ghost. If you've ever wondered how to deal with a ghost, this book will get you started.

The Bottom Line: This humorous and fun Halloween treat is filled with colorful and engaging digitally created illustrations. This would be a fun book to read during storytime or simply aloud with your little one. Enthusiastically recommended for spooky holiday reading.

Details: How to Scare a Ghost (How To Series) written by Jean Reagan & illustrated by Lee Wildish. Picture book published by Knopf Books for Young Readers in 2018. 32 p. ISBN: 978-1-5247-0190-1

Book Review: 'Trick or Treat on Scary Street' by Lance Bass

✰✰✰✰½ It’s Halloween, and like a carnival barker, one little trick-or-treater entices the others to follow him down Scary Street. It’s dark and spooky, but oh so intriguing. What will they find? Enter a gingerbread house or haunted mansion, if you dare. One by one they dwindle down from a group of thirteen to a lone trick-or-treater. What’s in store for him at the end of Scary Street? The answer will surprise you!

The Bottom Line: I absolutely adore Garrigue’s dark, spooky, atmospheric illustrations in purples, blacks, yellows, and oranges. Written with rhymes, kids will find it easy to follow along. This spooktakular treat is highly recommended seasonal reading for kids ages ages 5 - 9 who enjoy picture books with spookier, darker images.

Details: Trick or Treat on Scary Street written by Lance Bass & illustrated by Roland Garrigue. Picture book published by Union Square Kids in 2024. 40 p. ISBN: 978-1454952176

Book Review: 'Just Say Boo!' by Susan Hood

✰✰✰½ If you’ve ever wondered what to say when encountering a spooky friend or foe, Just Say Boo! has just the right words for you. For all types of spooky situations like encounters with wind, wet leaves, skeletons, and dinosaurs, this book has the answers. Don’t know what to say when you receive a treat? Just look it up here. Scared of bugs? Just look it up here. And wondering how to deal with a crying baby? Look no further. Check out this book for seasonal answers. 

The Bottom Line: With catchy rhyming verses and festive, autumnal watercolor illustrations, this seasonal picture book will delight kids ages 3 - 7. It is especially helpful for bashful children who might wonder what to say in new situations or for little ones a tiny bit afraid of some spooky fun. 

Details: Just Say Boo! written by Susan Hood & illustrated by Jed Henry. Picture book published by Harper in 2012. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-06-201029-2 

Book Review: 'Body on Ice: A Vermont Murder Mystery' by Alan S. Kessler

✰✰✰✰ A pastor's wife, known for her contributions as a Red Cross Volunteer, has hidden a secret life for years. When she's found dead under scandalous circumstances, her secret comes to light. Her marriage has been a sham, and she has enjoyed the "sporting" life. There's no shortage of suspects, but with city corruption manipulating the investigation, it's questionable whether justice will ever be served. This fast-paced story of sex, lies, and corruption will keep your attention as you try to keep track of the clues. 1919 was definitely a year to be remembered.

The Bottom Line: Based on a true story, this novella keeps you guessing with twists and turns and layers of corruption. Just when you think you have it figured out, there’s a surprise at the end. This is a page-turner that left me wishing it had been longer. Enthusiastically recommended for adult fans of mystery based on true events.

Details: Body on Ice: A Vermont Murder Mystery by Alan S. Kessler. Paperback published by Leviathan Books in 2024. 110 p. 978-1938394850 [NOTE: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.] 

Book Review: 'Old Haunts' by E. J. Copperman

✰✰✰✰½ Alison Kerby, the proprietor of a haunted Jersey Shore guesthouse, has her hands full with renovations while hosting guests at the same time, not to mention raising her daughter. She just barely has it all under control. What she doesn't anticipate is that things are about to get a lot more interesting when ‘The Swine’ (that's Alison’s ex-husband) suddenly shows up and books a room.

While her daughter is thrilled, Alison has reservations. However, it seems that Alison is not the only one dealing with memories from the past. Both resident ghosts, Maxie and Paul, are haunted by memories of their own exes. Maxie longs to know what happened to her murdered biker, and Paul just wants to know that his ex is doing okay.

Alison agrees find some answers to keep her ghosts happy; after all they have a daily haunting to put on for guests. In doing so, Alison finds herself in a heap of trouble. Between renovating, sleuthing, and raising her daughter, Alison must somehow tactfully keep The Swine at bay.

The Bottom Line: The third installment of The Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries filled me with laughter as I can easily relate to having problems with an ex-spouse. Copperman’s writing style is engaging and fun to read; I look forward to reading more installments in this series. This is the perfect beach read in the summer or cozy up to the fireplace on a cold winter evening with this entertaining mystery. Wholeheartedly recommended for fans of cozy mysteries, paranormal mysteries, and anyone who has ever had to deal with a narcissistic ex. 

Details: Old Haunts (A Haunted Guesthouse Mystery) by E. J. Copperman. Paperback published by Berkley in 2012. 304 p. ISBN: 978-0-425-24620-7

Book Review: 'We're Going on a Goon Hunt' by Michael Rex

✰✰✰✰✰ On a spooky night a family goes looking for a goon. Not any goon will do. They are looking for a green one. The goon hunt takes them through a pumpkin patch, swamp, graveyard, and more as they search for the bald, green one. Along the way, the family feels more and more scared, but together they continue. Will they be brave enough to find it?

The Bottom Line: With repeating lines and subtle changes in text, beginning readers will enjoy reading this aloud over and over again. The engaging illustrations feature digitally colored pencil drawings resulting in sharp lines and cool colors. As a companion book to Goodnight Goon, this one is both funny and fun. Highly recommended seasonal reading with your little one or for storytimes.

Details: We’re Going on a Goon Hunt: A Petrifying Parody by Michael Rex. Hardcover picture book published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in 2020. 40 p. ISBN: 978-1-9848-1362-6