Born in Poland, I have fond memories of sitting on my Grandma’s lap listening to stories and poems. A favorite poem was about a crow who ate Swiss cheese and only left the holes. The concept made my noggin spin and spurred my imagination. When I immigrated to the U.S. at age seven, I learned English by reading a Mother Goose collection. Captivated by the fun rhyming sounds and art, I dreamed of making children’s books someday. Years later, my dream came true, I became an author/illustrator, with the majority of my books being extensions of the nursery rhymes which inspired me when I was a child.
I wrote...
Haunted Party
By
Iza Trapani
What is my book about?
Count up and down for Halloween fun!
This humorous book invites readers to count eerie party guests one through ten as they arrive at the haunted house of their ghostly host. Mummies and monsters, werewolves and witches, vampires, and ghouls show up group by group to round out the festivities. These classic creatures party the night away, but when the guests are frightened by a group of young trick-or-treaters, readers count backward as they depart. A surprise ending offers a delightfully spooky twist.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Room on the Broom
By
Julia Donaldson,
Axes Scheffler
Why this book?
You can not go wrong with Julia Donaldson – author of The Gruffalo (which, in my opinion, is one of the best children’s books of all time). Written in her trademark, hilarious, flawless rhyme, this book is an absolute joy. The story is about a witch and her cat flying on a broom, with three other animals asking if there is room on the broom for them. The witch obliges but the broom becomes overloaded and a bit of a catastrophe ensues. Readers will love the fun sounds and repetition, the wonderful, suspenseful plot, and the satisfying, rounded ending. Axel Scheffler’s bold and humorous art compliments the story perfectly. I highly recommend this book- and many others by this dynamic duo.
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The Hallo-Wiener
By
Dav Pilkey
Why this book?
This book is laugh-out-loud funny and also sweet, featuring a cast of canines, which dog lovers will appreciate. Oscar is a Dachshund – “half-a-dog tall and one-and-a-half dogs long.” His last name is Myer, as shown on the mailbox in the illustrations. This is just one example of the humor and clever wordplay throughout the story. Poor Oscar is often ridiculed by his pals and classmates. That Halloween, he faces even more humiliation when his Mom surprises him with a comical costume. Oh, the indignity! But, not to worry – all is well in the end. The art matches the story perfectly. I especially love the character’s expressions. Great fun!
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Monster Goose
By
Judy Sierra,
Jack E. Davis
Why this book?
Judy Sierra, author of Wild About Books, is a brilliant rhymer. With a spot-on meter, witty wordplay, and humor, she creates enchanting poems. Monster Goose is a hilarious, slightly eerie but fun poetry collection featuring well-known nursery rhyme characters. The short verses, some of which are a bit gory, are sure to elicit some playful “yuks” and “eews.” Jack E. Davis’s illustrations are a perfect match with their googly-eyed, silly characters.
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Little Goblins Ten
By
Pamela Jane,
Jane Manning
Why this book?
This Halloween rendition of the traditional Over in the Meadow counting rhyme is so well done. The finely crafted verses feature goblins, ghosts, skeletons, and other spooky creatures. Beautiful, colorful, atmospheric scenes by Jane Manning compliment the story inviting the reader to pause on each page to admire the art, count the characters, and smile. As an illustrator myself, I appreciate the wonderful design and compositions. Both the story and characters are sweet and hardly scary, so it’s a great pick for younger children, especially those who might be easily frightened.
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The Little Ghost Who Lost Her Boo!
By
Elaine Bickell,
Raymond McGrath
Why this book?
This book features the cutest little ghost, who goes out to frighten someone with her Boo. But, unfortunately, she loses her Boo. Boohoo, what will she do? There are plenty of “oo” sounds in the verses, which could help early readers. The surprise ending engages the reader as well. It’s a very sweet story with lovely illustrations and is not at all scary, Little ones are sure to giggle and participate in making the numerous “oo” sounds.
