GET READY FOR HALLOWEEN

Hurry, hurry: Halloween’s coming!

Families—indeed, a whole community of families, friends, and neighbors—are preparing for Halloween. There’s much to be done ahead of the big day: decorating houses inside and out, making or picking out inventive, eye-catching costumes, and shopping for delectable treats and pumpkins to turn into jack-o’-lanterns. And don’t forget all the picture taking. Nolan reminds young readers about safety measures: holding an adult’s hand, looking both ways before crossing the street, staying with the group, and carrying flashlights or glow sticks. The weeks leading up to Halloween are generally a hectic, fun-filled time, and this joyous book reminds children and their grown-ups of that fact. The phrase “Is it time for Halloween?” appears periodically, followed by a chipper “Not yet. There’s more to do.” The text is expressed mostly via succinct phrases rather than full sentences, which adds to the excitement and may encourage emergent readers to navigate the text more confidently. The colorful illustrations pop with energy and feature an adorable, all-animal cast of children and adults cheerfully participating in holiday activities. The book emphasizes friendly neighborhood and family efforts and demonstrates that Halloween can be a welcoming, community-centered, and safe event for all.

Sparkles with anticipatory, Halloween fun.