Hey-How for Halloween!

by Lee Bennett Hopkins (Compiler), Janet McCaffery (Illustrator)

An anthology of Halloween poetry by John Ciardi, Maurice Sendak, e. e. cummings, Carl Sandburg, and others.

Genres: Poetry, Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1974

About the author

Lee Bennett Hopkins was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2017. He holds a Guinness Book of Records citation for compiling the most anthologies for children. He has also received the Christopher Award, the Regina Medal, and the National Council of Teachers of English Excellence in Poetry for Children Award. He lives in Florida.

For more information, please see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_Ben...

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lee Bennett Hopkins presents twenty-two spooky poems in this delightful collection, some of them explicitly about Halloween, some simply appropriate for the season and holiday. Like Daisy Wallace's Witch Poems , published just two years after Hey-How for Halloween!, we see e.e. cumming's famous "Hist Whist" among the selections here. Other famous authors to be included range from Carson McCullers ("Trick or Treat") to Carl Sandburg ("Theme in Yellow"). There is even a delightful selection ("October") from children's literature luminary Maurice Sendak...

I enjoyed this collection immensely, reading the poems silently to myself, and then aloud, and finding them absolutely delightful! As someone who loves all things "witchy," my favorite selections included Leland B. Jacobs' "What Witches Do" and B.J. Lee's "Eight Witches." I also enjoyed May Justus' "Luck for Halloween," which seemed to have some of the flavor of its author's native Appalachia: "It was a wise old woman / Who gave this charm to me. / It works the best on Halloween - / Or so said she!" The accompanying black and white artwork from Janet McCaffery, whose illustrations I know from such titles as Mary Calhoun's The Witch of Hissing Hill and The Runaway Brownie , were well-suited to the text - fun, and deliciously spooky! Having read this only a few days after Witch Poems , which was illustrated by the incomparable Trina Schart Hyman, it is natural to compare the artwork. Although be no means the equal of the Hyman (a difficult task for anyone!), the visuals here do have charm. Recommended to young poetry lovers at Halloween.

[Ro · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite was the on by Maurice Sendack.

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to check this out every Halloween! Just cute, fun, "scary" poems that were perfect for Halloween. Plus, I like finding accessible ways to introduce my kids to poetry, and this was totally accessible.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful, seasonal anthology about the classic spooks, ghouls, tricks, and treats that come with Halloween. Young readers will surely enjoy hearing poems about one of their favorite holidays (and may even enjoy reciting a few themselves).

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to read this book because some of my favorite poets had poems in it, but I was disappointed. I didn't find any poems that I particularly liked. The illustrations were only so-so.

[Casey Bruck · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite halloween poetry book!

[Matthew Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good poetry works for readers / listeners of all ages.

[Carol Mcgloshen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of poem for children of all ages about Halloween.

[Luci · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent Halloween poetry compilation!

2024 read: Just the best Halloween poetry collection! And one of the best poetry collections!