All Hallow’s Eve by Jennifer Hughes, illustrated by Agus Prajogo

Mascot Books, 2019

ISBN-13: 978-1684011643

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition

October is THE month for storytelling and reading aloud, especially with kids, who see it as THEIR holiday. A majority of picture books for this time of year, however, are either series tie-ins (quality may vary) or standards that have survived the test of time (I will never not read The Hallo-Wiener or The Tailypo if I can get someone to listen)  All Hallow’s Eve is new this year: it’s a tale of trick-or-treating gone creepy. Hughes originally wrote the story in 2000 as a poem for her nieces, who demanded it be read to them over and over again, but set it aside until recently. The sing-songy rhythm and the words hanging on the structure of the familiar poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” make it a fun and easy read-aloud. The cartoony, colorful illustrations of four little witches off to trick-or-treat are adorable, and the last house on the street is spooky. Readers expecting a predictable ending might find themselves at least a little surprised– and kids will probably giggle– at how the story wraps up. Not terribly scary but very Halloween-y, All Hallow’s Eve is a nice find for the upcoming holiday.