✰✰✰✰✰ The pumpkinheads are tired of sitting on porches while kids dressed up in Halloween costumes have all the fun year after year. They just aren't going to take it any more. So this year the pumpkinheads set out to transform themselves into scary creatures to frighten the children instead. With a swarm of bees, giant dinosaurs, gargantuan spiders, and slime, the pumpkinheads are sure to be a scary hit. Or will they? It seems the pumpkinheads are in for a big surprise.
The Bottom Line: Master carver Hugh McMahon lends his talents to his first children's book. The result is a visual treat. You'll never see pumpkins the same way once you've read this book. Highly recommended for kids in grade school. Also, enthusiastically recommended for crafters looking for new ideas and inspiration. It includes instructions for carving a pumpkin and a recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds too. Yum!
Details: Night of the Pumpkinheads written by Michael J. Rosen with pumpkin carvings by Hugh McMahon. Hardcover picture book published by Dial Books for Young Readers in 2011. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-8037-3452-4
✰✰✰✰ Twelve-year-old Flossie Birdwhistle may have thought death meant peaceful rest, but she was wrong. She has a job in the afterlife, a very important job. As turnkey of London's Highgate Cemetery, she cares for all the souls buried there making sure they are content and at rest. Unfortunately, this is especially difficult during World War II.
When Flossie happens to spot the ghost of a German soldier, she has a feeling it is up to no good. It's only a matter of time before she uncovers a plot that could jeopardize both her cemetery and all of England. Flossie and her ghost friends must find a way to save both and set things right before it is too late.
The Bottom Line: This Gothic mystery for middle grade readers is a delight to read. Filled with relatable characters, a bit of history, and a dash of the supernatural, this quick read takes the reader on many twists and turns. Highly recommended for middle grade and YA readers looking for a slightly dark, but engaging mystery. I hope there are more books to follow.
Details: The Turnkey of Highgate Cemetery by Allison Rushby. Hardcover published by Candlewick Press in 2018. 256 p. ISBN: 978-0-7636-9685-6 NOTE: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.
✰✰✰✰✰ Join the rollicking fun as a giant pumpkin is set loose and wreaks havoc on a family farm. As it makes its getaway, the pumpkin bumps along ‘round and ‘round. What will they do? Lucky for everyone, Poppa knows the answer to their problem.
The Bottom Line: This humorous, rhyming story is perfect for reading aloud. Kids ages PreK – Grade 1 will want to join in the fun. The comical, colorful illustrations make this a great pick for story time. Highly recommended for libraries and schools.
Details: The Runaway Pumpkin written by Kevin Lewis & illustrated by S.D. Schindler. Hardcover picture book published by Orchard Books in 2003. 32 p. ISBN: 0-439-43974-4
✰✰✰½ The perfect pumpkin is chosen to be a guard on Halloween night. It is given eyes, a nose, and a grinning mouth, and it came to life with candlelight. It seems the jack-o'-lantern was up to no good though. So just like that, the magic disappeared in a puff of smoke.
The Bottom Line: Lee’s whimsical illustrations bring this seasonal story to life. Read this tale of mischief and magic with little ones ages 4 – 6.
Details: The Magic Pumpkin written by Bill Martin Jr. & John Archambault & illustrated by Robert J. Lee. Hardcover picture book published by Henry Holt & Company in 1989. 32 p. ISBN: 0-8050-1134-X
✰✰✰½ Edgar Brim is an orphan who has suffered from night terrors for as long as he can remember. Things only get worse when his guardian sends him to a school for boys on The Highlands of Scotland. Life at school is miserable for Edgar until a new student arrives. Tiger is everything Edgar isn't. Tiger is brave and athletic. The two soon become fast friends, but as graduation nears, tragedy strikes and secrets are revealed. With guidance from a trusted teacher, Edgar and his friends set off on a dark, supernatural mission that leads them to the Royal Lyceum Theatre in London. Here Edgar will have to confront the very terrors that have haunted him his entire life. And just when Edgar and his friends think they are in the clear, a surprise twist sets the stage for the second installment of the trilogy.
The Bottom Line: From the author of the Boy Sherlock Holmes series comes a new Gothic trilogy for teens. Readers will identify with the characters as they struggle to face both their fears and awkward social angst. Although parts of the book drag at times, there are plenty of thrills, mystery, and creepy moments to keep you turning the pages. The book also highlights themes of teamwork and friendship. Recommended for teens and adults who enjoy Gothic literature, horror, and the supernatural. I'm looking forward to reading the next one.
Details: The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim by Shane Peacock. Paperback edition published by Penguin Teen in 2018. 368 p. ISBN: 978-0-7352-6311-6 NOTE: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.
✰✰✰½ Bryony Gray is not your average thirteen-year-old girl. She is a gifted artist. With no parents around, her aunt and uncle take full advantage of her gift by locking her up in the attic and forcing her paint. When clients begin to go missing, rumors about Bryony begin to swirl. It seems that everyone knows about Bryony's family, but Bryony herself. As she struggles to break free from the tight grip of her aunt and uncle, something mysterious happens. Bryony's portraits take on a life of their own and terrorize the city of London. With the help of the brother and sister duo from next door, Bryony tries to reign in her paintings before time runs out. Will Bryony and her friends be successful? Only time will tell.
The Bottom Line: This historical adventure is a fast-paced read. There are lots of challenges that the main character and her friends must tackle together. Like most teens, Bryony just wants to be fit in and have friends, but sometimes just being ordinary is a challenge in itself. Kids will relate to the awkwardness of just trying to be yourself. Recommended for both young adults and adults who enjoy a little bit of horror or paranormal in their historical mysteries.
Details: The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray by E. Latimer. Hardcover published by Tundra Books in 2018. 336 p. ISBN: 978-1-101-91928-6 NOTE: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible via the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.
✰✰✰✰½ One shy bunny sets out on a dark Halloween night. The noises all around are frightening. Just when the timid bunny is about to run away, a new friend is made. Together, paw in paw, they bravely knock on a door and shout, "Trick or Treat!" Will they receive a trick or a treat? Pick up a copy of this festive Halloween book to find out.
The Bottom Line: This sweet tale of friendship overcoming shyness is perfect for tots who are a bit afraid to go trick-or-treating. The simple, large text with rhyming words is easy to read for beginning readers. Mack's colorful acrylic illustrations are expressive, sweet, and just a tiny bit spooky. This is the perfect pick for story time or to read alone with your child. Highly recommended for kids ages 3 - 6.
Details: Boo, Bunny! written by Kathryn O. Galbraith & illustrated by Jeff Mack. Hardcover picture book published by Harcourt, Inc. in 2008. 40 p. ISBN: 978-0-15-216246-7
