cover image The Boo Crew Needs YOU!

The Boo Crew Needs YOU!

Vicky Fang, illus. by Saoirse Lou. Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, $12.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-72826-456-1

There’s something strange in the neighborhood on Halloween, and readers know who they’re gonna call in Fang’s high-energy, rhyming interactive romp. Touching an illustrated button that reads “Quick, PRESS HERE,” the audience helps to summon the Boo Crew—ghost Luna, skeleton Bones, and vampire Fang—which solicits assistance to put things right. In each scene, readers are urged to join the crew in addressing chaos ahead of the Monster Ball. When a witch’s new broomstick has a glitch, vampire Fang offers “Hey, try PUSHING on the switch,” and points to a large orange rocker switch in the image. And when the trio discovers the dance’s venue is literally turned on its side, readers are invited to “SHAKE the book and TURN us straight!” Lou fills full moonlit scenes with green, orange, and purple-tinged cartoons of smiling mummies, werewolves, and witches of various skin tones leading up to the festive bash, where readers can celebrate their own job well done. Ages 3–8. (Aug.)