If Animals Trick-Or-Treated (If Animals Kissed Good Night)

A cute introduction to Halloween for youngsters.

PreS-Gr 1--This endearing read-aloud will make young children giggle and will warm their hearts. Throughout the story, Paul invites children to imagine what animals would do if they celebrated Halloween like humans. A jolly little owl chooses to carve a pumpkin that looks just like him, a piglet dresses up in a mummy costume, and an armadillo brings chocolate ants to share. The playful use of rhyme and alliteration invites readers in as they listen and gain language comprehension. The whimsical typeface is combined with brightly colored onomatopoeia sprinkled throughout. The number of sentences per spread is limited, making this book perfect for children ages 3-6. Walker incorporates innocent, animated animals that children will enjoy. Instead of portraying a scary holiday filled with monsters, this sweet book allows children to see the fun-loving side of Halloween. VERDICT A wonderful choice for an autumn story hour at the library or at home that will have young children laughing, learning, and saying, "Again!"--Kelly Richards

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

All the Halloween check boxes are ticked for the littlest listeners: carving pumpkins, decorating, donning costumes, and trick-or-treating... Walker's scenes start during the day and gradually fade to night, when the illustrations almost seem to glow, gentle stars in the sky shining down, and the shared book at the close is the ideal end to a busy day. —Kirkus Reviews

On Halloween, Owlet finds that every animal celebrates the scariest time of the year differently. From Hatchling and Papa Crocodile's segmented croc-o'-lantern with the 'sneee-eeery smile' to Raccoon's 'garbage-fudge squares, ' each animal's traditions feel unique to its species. Refreshingly, Halloween regulars (such as bats) mingle with animals not often featured (such as an armadillo). —Horn Book