Leuck's (Goodnight, Baby Monster) smooth counting rhyme tracks a witch as she collects nasty "goodies" from ghosts, goblins and the like. "Two cats/ inside a pail/ gave the witch/ a fish's tail./ Three scarecrows/ stuffed with straw/ gave the witch/ a blackbird's claw." After hoarding nine icky ingredients, the witch concocts a potluck stew and issues invitations; the rhymes now let readers count down, from 10 to one. "(Everybody loved it too!)/ They saved the last bowl just for.../ you!" Schindler's (Runaway Pumpkin, reviewed below) closely observed, echoes-of-Gorey images build to a surprise conclusion: the witch turns to the unsuspecting audience, proffering a steaming dish. Ages 3-8. (Aug.)
