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 

Book Review: 'Oh No, Not Ghosts!' by Richard Michelson

✰✰✰½ With their dad asleep, two siblings try not to make a peep. However, it’s hard to ignore that sound. Could it be ghosts, werewolves, or giants? Oh no, it’s something scarier. Or is it? Check out this suspenseful, seasonal picture book to find out.

The Bottom Line: A little bit creepy, and a little bit scary, this picture book demonstrates through rhymes and engaging illustrations that there’s no such thing as ghosts. For seasonal reading and storytime for kids ages 5 - 7.

Details: Oh No, Not Ghosts! written by Richard Michelson & illustrated by Adam McCauley. Picture book published by Harcourt, Inc. in 2006. 44 p. ISBN: 0-15-205186-4  

Book Review: 'The Vanishing Pumpkin' by Tony Johnston

✰✰✰✰½ Johnston and dePaola team up again to bring readers this delightful tale of a 700-year-old woman and an 800-year-old man who just want to make a pumpkin pie on Halloween. Lo and behold, their pumpkin is missing. This just won’t do, so the old couple set off to look for it. Join them as they question a ghoul, a rapscallion, a varmint, and an old wizard. Each has motives to steal the prized pumpkin, but who really did it? This book will keep you turning the pages with a surprise ending.

The Bottom Line: While searching the shelves for new Halloween books to review, I came across this blast from the past. Perfect seasonal reading for kids in grades 1 - 3, this picture book probably has more words in it that kids are used to today, so be prepared to read-along. Illustrated in dePaola’s signature style, this book is enthusiastically recommended.

Details: The Vanishing Pumpkin written by Tony Johnston & pictures by Tomie dePaola. Hardcover picture book published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in 1983. 30 p. ISBN: 0-399-20991-3 

Book Review: 'Ralph Masiello's Halloween Drawing Book' by Ralph Masiello

✰✰✰✰½ Kids and adults who have a fascination with Halloween will relish this spooky instructional book on how to draw all things Halloween. Just grab a sheet of white paper or a sketchbook along with a pencil or pen and you're all set to go. Choose from the usual seasonal offerings like pumpkins, bats, and ghosts or for an extra challenge take a stab at owls, ravens and skeletons. There's many more projects to choose from too. [Note: I'm partial to the haunted mansion myself ;)]

The Bottom Line: Kids and adults alike will be inspired. With step-by step drawings so that you can follow along at your own pace, this book is sure to be a seasonal treat for those who love to draw all things Halloween. The lessons start out easy and get progressively more difficult as you turn the pages. Each subject includes a beautiful, mixed media full color finished example. The only thing that would have made it better is a few more tips on how to add color, but this is first and foremost a book about drawing. If you enjoyed this one, check out one of the others as this is just one of many books in the Ralph Masiello's Drawing Book Series which includes topics like dinosaurs, dragons, and bugs. Enthusiastically recommended for artists of all ages who enjoy drawing seasonal, spooky pictures.

Details: Ralph Masiello's Halloween Drawing Book: Simple Steps Make Anyone an Artist written & illustrated by Ralph Masiello. Hardcover picture book published by Charlesbridge in 2012. 32 p.  ISBN: 978-1-57091-541-3 

Book Review: 'The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky' by Jory John

✰✰✰ The Bad Seed is in a bad mood. Even though Halloween is his favorite holiday, he’s grumpy. He has no one to blame, but himself because he just couldn’t put together an awesome Halloween costume in time. Being a bad seed, he decides to trick the others into postponing Halloween to give himself more time. Will his antics work? Or will the others celebrate without him? Check out this short book to find out.

The Bottom Line: As the Bad Seed learns, there’s no need to take your bad mood out on others. Some things just aren’t that big of a deal, and all we need is someone to point this out. However, it’s never too late to make things right. This book is part of The Food Group series, and kids will enjoy this seasonal offering. Oswald’s illustrations were the highlight of this book; nevertheless, this installment didn’t have quite the snarkiness of the original.

[Note: This book comes with 150 spooky stickers; however, since I checked out a copy from a local library, there were none inside. Thus, the stickers were not a part of my book review.]

Details: The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky written by Jory John & illustrated by Pete Oswald. Hardcover picture book published by HarperCollins in 2021. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-06-295454-1  

Book Review: 'Who Said Boo?: Halloween Poems for the Very Young' by Nancy White Carlstrom

✰✰✰✰ This charming collection of seasonal Halloween-themed poems includes poems about jack-o’-lanterns, monsters, ghosts, haunted houses, and witches.

The Bottom Line: These engaging and fun poems are accompanied by colorful, dreamy, and humorous illustrations rendered in pen and ink and watercolor. Recommended seasonal reading for children who enjoy poetry.

Details: Who Said Boo?: Halloween Poems for the Very Young written by Nancy White Carlstrom & illustrated by R. W. Alley. Hardcover picture book published by Aladdin Paperback in 1999. 32 p. ISBN: 0-689-80308-7

Book Review: 'An Uninvited Ghost' by E. J. Copperman

✰✰✰ Allison has her hands full renovating her guesthouse on the South New Jersey Shore and raising her daughter. With a new group of Senior Plus guests arriving and a reality TV show filming on the property as well, Allison doesn’t have time for an investigation. Nevertheless, when a blind ghost hires one of her resident ghosts to solve a possible crime, Allison is compelled to help. After all, the resident ghosts are the main attraction at her guesthouse, and if they are not happy, they might not cooperate. As Allison investigates, the paranormal world and reality collide into a mystery with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing.

The Bottom Line: This is the second installment of The Haunted Guesthouse Mysteries. With so many characters and subplots, the story gets a little jumbled at times. Also, since a cat is prominently featured on the cover, I expected one in the book; no such luck. Nevertheless, it’s still a fun weekend or beach read. An enjoyable read recommended for fans of cozy mysteries and paranormal mysteries.

Details: An Uninvited Ghost by E. J. Copperman. Paperback published by Berkley in 2011. 304 p. ISBN: 978-425-24058-8

Horrorfest of Books 2024!

Hi everyone! It's my favorite time of the year, and I know I'm not alone. Who loves Autumn with cooler days, bonfires, and vibrant colors? Me!

Although it's been a few years since I've written book reviews for my Horrorfest of Books, it's back! With thirteen tales of paranormal, mystery, and spooky craftiness for all ages, there's sure to be a book here to your liking. I hope you have as much fun reading these reviews as I did writing them. Ta-ta-for-now; I'm off to scare up some more spooktacular reading. Stay spooky, my friends! And wishing you a Happy Halloween!

P.S. The free clipart is from Wilsoninfo. Thank you!