Halloween Pie - Hardcover

Tunnell, Michael O.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0688168043 ISBN 13: 9780688168049

Publisher: Lothrop Lee & Shepard, 1999

Synopsis

When the aroma of Old Witch's Halloween pie fills the forest air, a kooky cast of characters, such as Zombies, Ghouls, and Banshees, come from all around to get a piece of the tasty treat.

About this title

About the Author

"A heartwarming period piece based on a true incident, lovingly told, beautifully illustrated," raved The New York Times Book Review of Michael O. Tunnell's Mailing May, illustrated by Ted Rand, which was also honored as a 1998 ALA Notable Book.The author of five picture books, two chapter books, two novels, and one documentary, Mike teaches children's literature at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. He and his wife, Glenna, have four children and two grandchildren.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3 Youngsters who like "scary stories" will find this selection deliciously shivery more from the look of the characters than from the plot. After inviting readers to join her, Old Witch bakes a pumpkin pie. She sets it to cool and casts a spell, "Protect this treat for me alone to eat," before taking off "to make some mischief." Its scent wafts its way to the cemetery, where a spooky ensemble follows it to the source and devours the dessert. Suddenly sleepy, each creature finds a spot in the house to snooze. When Witch arrives, neither the pie nor the uninvited guests can be found. Instead, one sees "a perfectly shaped pumpkin" where Vampire had been, "a dozen brown eggs" where Ghoul had slumbered, "a smidgen of salt" in place of Ghost just waiting to be baked into a new pie. While it is cooling, eerie, white monster wisps are released in the steam, and the creatures return to their homes, "their tummies still full of Halloween pie." Tunnell uses the repetitive actions of his six graveyard goons as an opportunity for alliteration and rhyme. O'Malley's oil washes with ink lines and cross-hatching create dark, shadowy backgrounds, so the florescent details pop out in the foreground. Thus, language and art combine to make this an effective choice for groups. A recipe is appended. When storytime audiences can stomach Erica Silverman's Big Pumpkin (S & S, 1992), and are ready to sample something a bit spicier, serve them Halloween Pie. Wendy Lukehart, Dauphin County Library, Harrisburg, PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Lothrop Lee & Shepard
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0688168043
• ISBN 13: 9780688168049
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 24
• Illustrator: O'Malley Kevin