Two Little Witches: A Halloween Counting Story

In an amusing counting tale, complete with full-color illustrations, one by one, the little trick-or-treaters get together for an evening of fun and venture over to a dark and scary house, where they are greeted by a monster.

PreSchool-Grade 1-A simple counting story for group sharing and beginning readers. One little witch plus another little witch add (one at a time) a clown, skeleton, striped cat, and so forth, to their retinue until there are "ten trick-or-treaters going trick-or-treating in the dark on Halloween night." Encountering a monster at a spooky old house, all scatter until only the two little witches remain. One rides off on her broomstick and the other walks home and counts her treats, leaving none. The text is simple and the addition predictable, ideal for novice mathematicians. The phrases "going trick-or-treating" and "in the dark on Halloween night" are used repeatedly, but do not build a strong rhythm or invite children to join in the oral reading, as does Sue Alexander's Who Goes Out on Halloween? (Bantam, 1990). Taback's large, primitive, watercolor-and-ink cartoons are especially delightful, though, both spooky with bold uses of black backgrounds and reassuringly familiar with the obviously homemade costumes. And Ziefert's surprise ending is a nice bonus.
Claudia Cooper, Ft. Stockton Independent School District, TX
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Little goblins learn to count to 10 with this yarn?and they'll pick up some good costume ideas, too. What is counted are trick-or-treating friends: two witches who meet up with a clown, a skeleton, and so forth. Nothing macabre whatsoever here?just happy, brightly colored characters on a slightly spooky mission for candy. Ages 2-5.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 2^-5. In this cumulative counting story, two little witches meet one small clown to make "three trick-or-treaters in the dark on Halloween night." As they go on their way, they meet a pumpkin, a princess, and so on, each one wearing a cheerful homemade costume. Once 10 individuals have gathered, they go to a house with the number 13 over the door, where they find a spooky surprise that sets nine of them running for home and the tenth running for her broomstick. Taback adds funny details, including a few animal characters that children can follow as they turn the pages, but he keeps the design simple and clear to make the counting easy. Susan Dove Lempke