Boo!

Reviewed by: Shannon Schinagl - Maine State Library, Augusta, Central Maine Library District

Review Date: August 11, 2015

Review

Leslie Patricelli has provided us with another funny book featuring her baby-with-a-curl-on-his-head character. This one revolves around Halloween.

In a twist, however, this book has much more text that her other board books (such as "Yummy YUCKY" and "Toot") and, in fact, has a plot. The illustrations are also a bit more busy and detailed than readers may be used to (there are fun elements for the grown-ups, too, such as the stems of the jack-o'-lanterns mirroring the baby's curl).

However, as expected, the book is fun! The baby has adventures while choosing a pumpkin (in his signature diaper), choosing a costume, and trick-or-treating. The book also continues with some of the concepts Patricelli's other board books include: pumpkins are "too small," "too BIG," and "Just right." A number of jack-o'-lantern faces and emotions are shown before baby chooses.

In a nod to a baby's or toddler's Halloween reality, the baby character is scared by the bigger kids' costumes while trick-or-treating in the dark. Thank goodness Daddy is there!

In short, this is another wonderful Leslie Patricelli board book, but readers who are used to one or two words per page will be surprised.

Overall Book Score: very good