Skeleton Bones and Goblin Groans: Poems for Halloween
PreSchool-Grade 2–From skeletons to vampires, the creepy icons of Halloween are presented in this collection of short, engaging poems. Forms of poetry are varied; some selections are very short, others longer, most rhyming, and some draped across spreads. "What Should I Be?" sets the stage as the narrator must decide on a costume while voicing the ultimate goal of Halloween for most children: "…superhero,/wise old wizard,/goblin for a night./Whatever I decide to be/(monster, hero, beast),/I want to get an early start/collecting all the treats!" Each playful poem is placed on a textured, brightly colored collage created by beads and fabric on canvas. The result is appealing, animated, and appropriate for younger children. While the alliterative language in "Night Flight" is imaginative with its "Flip/flap/floom" and "Dip/dap/doom," bats do not dive through the air "To land right in your hair!" This error is mitigated, however, by the overall appeal of the book and its potential use with a broad age range. Fresh, straightforward collections of short, Halloween-themed poetry are always welcome additions and this one is particularly handsome.–Maria B. Salvadore, formerly at District of Columbia Public LibraryCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.