Meaner than Meanest - Hardcover

Kevin Somers

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786805773 ISBN 13: 9780786805778

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion, 2001

Synopsis

In a rickety old hovel in a wooded swamp lives an evil old hag, who is the second-meanest creature alive. She is only the second meanest because her cat, Hisss, is even meaner than she is. And this Halloween, the hag is determined to make a creature that will be the meanest creature yet! But when she slips up and leaves out the eye of newt out of her recipe, the hag's worst fears are realized. Out of the bubbling brew comes--ugh!--the sweetest little girl she never wanted to meet, Daisy. How long will the hag be able to stand this little ray of sunshine?

About this title

Review:

What do you get when you mix greasy, slimy sweat from a speckled frog with 16 scrappy scorpions, 17 sticky spiders, 6 slithery snakes, 6 squishy snails, and eye of newt? The meanest, most evil monster in the world. Unfortunately, if you leave out the eye of newt, the results are not exactly the same. When an evil old hag, the second-meanest creature alive (her cat, Hisss, is the meanest), decides to make one Halloween the "darkest, spookiest, creepiest" ever, she is sure she has the perfect recipe. Appalled at the sweet little girl named Daisy who eventually emerges from her cauldron, the crone does everything in her power to turn her mean, but it looks like lovable Daisy may have some table-turning tricks up her own pink sleeve.

This hilariously original story by Kevin Somers will have young readers giggling into their witches' brew on Halloween--and all year round. Diana Cain Bluthenthal's sickly greens, spooky browns, and murky purples set the scene beautifully. (Ages 4 to 7) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal:

reS-Gr 2-An entertaining concoction is brewed up in this Halloween offering. A far-from-fetching, green-faced, warty old hag lives in a hovel in the middle of a wooded swamp. She is a thoroughly mean creature, second only to her evil cat named Hisss, and they delight in their mutual disdain of one another. When the hag realizes that Halloween is approaching, she decides to create the most evil creature in the world to make the holiday truly festive. She consults a tome entitled Monster Recipes for Witches, Hags, and Mean Old Bats. Into the cauldron go scorpions, sticky spiders, snakes, squishy snails, and a host of other nasty ingredients. The hag realizes too late that she has left out an essential part of the recipe so out of the monstrous cocoon pops a little girl who introduces herself as Daisy. The child's saccharine disposition drives the hag wild, but when extreme measures such as locking her in the damp, dark cellar with Hisss result in a tea party, the witch takes to her bed. It is only on Halloween that Daisy finds a way to make even the Queen of Mean smile. Appropriately wacky cartoon illustrations enhance the humor of this light Halloween foray. Libraries that need jovial Halloween tales will want to purchase it.

Rosalyn Pierini, San Luis Obispo City-County Library, CA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0786805773
• ISBN 13: 9780786805778
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 32
• Illustrator: Diana Cain Bluthenthal