Grizelda the green hates halloween

PreS-Gr 1--This book will bring lighthearted cheer to young readers. On Halloween night, costumed children set out trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, "There's an old witch in town/ Named Grizelda the Green./ She's sour and grouchy/ And hates Halloween!" Grizelda bursts the jack-o'-lanterns and extinguishes street lights. Kids laugh and pull out their glow sticks. They are delighted instead of frightened when she turns the candy to life. They praise and thank Grizelda for her tricks. She's startled but enjoys the gratitude and uses her magic for good. Grizelda and the kids have so much fun that she decides to love Halloween. The story is simple and effective. Some rhymes feel forced, but they tell the story in playful and appropriate language. Couplets sit nicely on a page, allowing listeners to anticipate what happens next. Illustrations are basic digital cartoon style; the palette is appealing and fitting for the season, with black and lime green details popping against a pink and purple background. Children with a range of skin tones and colorful costumes are set against a navy blue evening. Faces have the large eyes and cartoonish expressions of anime. VERDICT A good addition for libraries seeking to enhance their young children's Halloween collections.--Amelia Jenkins

Sick of Halloween, a misanthropic witch takes matters into her own hands. Grizelda the Green loathes the trick-or-treaters who knock on her door each year, scaring her spiders, her pet dragon, and her cauldron. So she cooks up a plan to take the joy out of the holiday. As she casts spells, pumpkins explode and streetlights shatter. Undeterred, the children persist; after all, they have flashlights! The kids aren't bothered even when Grizelda makes their candy horribly unappetizing (worms and slime, anyone?). Instead, they're thrilled at the prospect of meeting a real live witch. "Your magic gave us the best Halloween ever!" a young girl declares. Grizelda is moved; turns out, even witches love helping others and being appreciated in return. The rhyming text results in an ideal preschool read-aloud, with the bouncing stanzas keeping a snappy pace. The children's unflagging optimism in the face of setbacks is an excellent lesson in making lemonade out of lemons, while Grizelda's change of heart emphasizes the rewards of generosity. Longhi's cheery cartoonish illustrations complement the storytelling; a palette of deep aquas with accents of purple, gold, and orange reflects the night sky and sets an appropriately spooky tone. The kids are racially diverse; Grizelda has gray-tinged skin and ombré green hair. A fresh trick-or-treating tale with plenty of read-aloud potential.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.