HAUNTED PARTY

One ghost invites two “spooky skeletons,” three “gruesome goblins” and so on up to nine “morbid mummies,” all of whom have a rocking good time playing pin-the-tail-on-the-werewolf and smashing pumpkins. Trapani’s serviceable verse counts up monster by monster in rhyming triplets with the refrain, “At the haunted house of the ghost.” Her cheery watercolors enliven the verse, depicting grinning ghouls enjoying themselves, the ghostly host in black tie floating about offering eyeballs and coffee. Kids will particularly enjoy the vile vampire with a bobbed apple impaled on each fang. When ten “cute children, sunny and sweet,” come to the door “[p]olitely chanting, ‘Trick or Treat,’ ” a speedy countdown of terrified party guests begins, a last wicked surprise keeping the book from cloying like too much candy corn. (Picture book. 4-7)