A Spooky, Sparkly Halloween (Very Fairy Princess)

Gerry is having "a hard time choosing a costume that works with my wings and crown," and she's quick to set her father straight when he suggests that she simply dress up as a fairy princess. "That not a costume," she says. "That's what I am!" Rather than make Gerry's costume conundrum the heart of the story, Andrews and Hamilton focus on her ingenuity, first in coming up with a perfect wings-friendly costume (an angel) and then by coming to the rescue of a classmate whose dentist costume gets doused with ketchup at lunch, a stain that "sends totally the wrong message about dentists!" A few costume adjustments for both girls result in a winning Halloween parade, captured in loving detail in Davenier's characteristically loose and lively illustrations. No tricks here, just treats--sparkly ones, of course. Ages 3-6. (July)

An all-new story about Gerry, the "Very Fairy Princess." This time, she is getting ready for Halloween by preparing an angel costume to wear (because, as she insists, her routine fairy princess attire is "not a costume"). But on the day of Halloween, when food accidentally splatters onto her friend Delilah's dentist coat, Gerry offers to give up her angel ensemble so she can transform it into a tooth costume for Delilah. With Delilah's help, Gerry then cleverly tweaks her usual fairy princess attire to make herself into a tooth fairy so the pals can complement one another during the Halloween parade. The pair of costumes is a rousing success, and the girls receive a prize for their "creative teamwork." Sweet and quaint, this latest installment in the series can be enjoyed by ardent fans and new readers alike. Gerry's quick thinking and selflessness to help fix Delilah's costume is admirable, elevating the book from a typical Halloween tale to a story about what it means to be a good friend. Davenier's familiar ink and colored pencil illustrations are warm and engaging, matching the genial tone of the text. VERDICT A good selection for children who like fairies and princesses or those who are looking for a Halloween book or a story about friendship.—Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY