HAPPY HALLOWEEN, WITCH'S CAT!

Muncaster follows up I Am a Witch’s Cat (2014) with another mother-daughter tale.

“My mom is a witch, and I am her special witch’s cat. She is a good witch, and together we are just right.” With Halloween coming, they go out shopping. Mother is busy purchasing decorations while her daughter tries to decide upon a costume. The pair goes to multiple stores, and in each the girl spots a potential outfit. Here readers can treat themselves to visual masterpieces crafted with various papers, textures, fabrics, and sculptures with the mentioned costume as the centerpiece. Turn the page, however, and the young girl is wearing the said costume (often but not always rendered two-dimensionally) but looking disappointed with the results. Being a green frog is “too slimy,” a silver skeleton is “too bony,” and a pink ballerina is “too frilly.” Seven costumes and corresponding colors in all are considered and rejected. They return home to eat, and just before bed—when all good ideas come—the girl has “the best idea of all.” The final page turn reveals the mother dressed as a black cat, and her daughter cavorts at the party wearing a witch’s hat.

This offering is more of a snack than a satisfying treat; all readers will focus on are the meticulously created pictures full of fun things they can almost reach out and touch.