Review by Booklist Review
PreS-Gr. 2. Decked out in Halloween costumes, four little friends venture down the street to the witch's house, deliciously scared by other young trick-or-treaters along the way. When they arrive at their destination, they hear a screech and see the witch herself. Evidently a friendly little witch (and probably a costumed classmate), she ushers them into her home for a Halloween party. Former kindergarten teacher Mr. Krieb shows that he knows a thing or two about holding children's attention in this rhyming, rhythmic text with call-and-response sections. With a multiracial cast of characters, Alley's child-friendly drawings glow with watercolor washes and brim with details that expand the narrative and add to the fun. Both verse and pictures will appeal to young children who like to be reassured as well as scared at Halloween. A good seasonal choice for reading at home or in the classroom. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2005 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Four trick-or-treaters march along a hushed sidewalk, to rhythmic stanzas that can be whispered or spoken boldly: "We're creeping down the witch's street./ Which street? The witch's street./ .../ but we're not afraid./ No, we're not afraid." Newcomer Krieb uses ample repetition in a call-and-response reminiscent of "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead!" Paddington illustrator Alley pictures the children and an antic owl tumbling past "big Frankenstein,/ the herky-jerky, lurching kind" and "a mostly misty, ghostly ghost" to arrive at a holiday revel where the menaces are revealed to be comfortingly kid-size. Ages 3-up. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-In this fun, frolicking romp, four trick-or-treating friends set off to find the witch's house on Halloween night. They're not afraid (well, maybe just a little). Along the way, they encounter several costumed ghosts and ghoulies but manage to skedaddle by and reach their destination. The friendly little witch opens her door and welcomes the children to her party. The spooky elements are just goofy enough that they aren't scary, and the rhyming, rhythmic text begs to be read aloud. The colorful cartoon illustrations have great child appeal, and the full-bleed spreads occasionally switch to a black background with white text, making for several dramatic moments. A wonderful choice for children who want something with the same gentle delivery but a little more depth and detail than Lauren Thompson's Mouse's First Halloween (S & S, 2000).-Genevieve Gallagher, Murray Elementary School, Charlottesville, VA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
We're off to find the witch's house. / Which house? / The witch's house. / We're off to find the witch's house, / but we're not afraid."" On Halloween night four costumed youngsters reach their destination after passing an owl, a skeleton, and other increasingly spooky creatures. The faultless singsong verseis accompanied by pictures that call to mind a color-mad, less-disciplined Sendak. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In newcomer Krieb's story, four youngsters march off into Halloween night to find the witch's house. In a jaunty rhyme, they encounter ever-more-creepy characters as they head for their destination, all buffered by Alley's scarily playful artwork. First a skeleton pops out (is that a ponytail peeking out from the back of its skull?), then Frankenstein's monster--"We're bolting by big Frankenstein, / the herky-jerky, lurching kind-- / his heavy head held on with twine. / Watch out! Don't get too close!"--a ghost, a wolf, Dracula, so that by the time they get to the witch's house, it seems a sanctuary. And so it is, when all the demons turn out to be their friends in costume. A fine combination of theatrical illustrations with merry wordplay: "We're running by a mummy now. / I hope we'll make it by some how. / I think I want my mommy now. . . ." (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
