The Ghost-Eye Tree (Owlet Book)
Grade 2-3 A gorgeously illustrated spooky story, The Ghost-Eye Tree tells of a young brother and sister sent by their mother to fetch a bucket of milk on a windswept night. To do so, they must pass the dread "Ghost-Eye tree," a shadowed and sinister-looking snag which they are sure is haunted. Brother has a tough-guy beat-up fedora to bolster his courage. His sister says it makes him look stupid, but brother says he needs it, if he is to accomplish the demanding mission. On the way home, burdened with the heavy milk pail, the two must again pass the ominous tree. It (or the owl half-hidden in the branches, or the wind) emits a frightful wail, and the children bolt for the safety of home, both of them scared out of their wits. Brother's hat is gone, lost somewhere near the terrible tree. Sister, who knows what it means to him, runs back, rescues the hat and restores it to tough-guy little brother. This beautiful picture book is rich in language, although the attempt to capture dialect occasionally results in grammatical awkwardness. With its sombre shades and deliciously scary spookiness, it will make a super Halloween read-aloud and has a lot to say about gruff but genuine family affection. Joan McGrath, Education Centre Library, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCopyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.