cover image Little Pumpkin’s Halloween

Little Pumpkin’s Halloween

Algy Craig Hall. Boxer, $6.95 (18p) ISBN 978-1-910716-67-0

Hall’s board book presents cheerful evidence that Halloween tricks and treats—and sights and sounds—aren’t just for big kids. Followed by a black kitten, Little Pumpkin, a broadly smiling toddler wearing a soft-shaped pumpkin hat and toting a tiny goody bag, moves through “the spooky house” searching for treats. As the duo explores behind the “swishy, swooshy curtains,” up the “creaky stairs,” and under the “squeaky bed,” Little Franken, Little Bat, and Little Ghost emerge to join the party. Together, the toddling trick-or-treaters summon the courage to find out “what is behind the spooky-wooky door.” The answer, presented in a smiling skull bowl, garners a glad “Hooray, hooray!” from the diverse crew. Ample white background space on the sturdy pages keeps the proceedings age-appropriately bright. Ages up to 4. [em](Sept.) [/em]