cover image Halloween Is Coming!

Halloween Is Coming!

Cal Everett, illus. by Lenny Wen. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, $10.99 (32p) ISBN 978-1-72820-586-1

Invited to “look around, you’ll see the signs,” readers follow three friends—an Asian child, a Black child, and a white child who uses a wheelchair—as they enjoy a full slate of seasonal activities. From hayrides to corn mazes, from jack-o’-lantern carving to a school costume parade, Wen’s cheery cast bops all over a quaint town as various monsters appear in each scene—a ghost near a hay-bale castle, a goblin on a rooftop. At last, “it’s tricks, and treats, and frights, and fun,/ and spooky things for everyone” at a neighborhood celebration. Though Everett’s rhymes can be bumpy, Wen’s ethnically inclusive suburban neighborhood and the volume’s seek-and-find elements make this an enjoyable read. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)