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A Halloween Happening
It's Halloween, and a group of witches is throwing a hair-raising party. Only children are invited, and they're in for some bewitching fun!
It's hard work getting ready! There are toad tarts, worm waffles, and candy bats to prepare. But more than that, a giant pumpkin tower is being built for climbing and exploring! At the top...soaring bat-wing glider rides, sure to give even the witches goose pimples.
This Halloween adventure will thrill and tickle children of all ages. The rich, full-color illustrations bring the magical spirit of this book to eerie life.
It's hard work getting ready! There are toad tarts, worm waffles, and candy bats to prepare. But more than that, a giant pumpkin tower is being built for climbing and exploring! At the top...soaring bat-wing glider rides, sure to give even the witches goose pimples.
This Halloween adventure will thrill and tickle children of all ages. The rich, full-color illustrations bring the magical spirit of this book to eerie life.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1981
119 people want to read
About the author
Adrienne Adams
68 books22 followersAdrienne Adams (February 10, 1906 - December 3, 2002) was a children's book illustrator. She won two Caldecott Honors (in 1960 and 1962) and in 1973 she was awarded the Rutgers Award for overall contributions to children’s literature. In 1977, she won a University of Southern Mississippi Medallion.
She was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas and grew up in Oklahoma She obtained a BA at Stephens College (who awarded her the Alumnae Achievement Award in 1964) then attended the University of Missouri and moved to New York in 1929 to study at the American School of Design and until 1949 she was a free-lance designer of displays, murals, textiles, greeting cards etc. She married children's book writer John Anderson in 1935 and in 1942 illustrated one of his books Bag of Smoke to begin her career as an illustrator becoming full-time in 1952. In total she illustrated more than 30 books, from contemporary authors such as Rumer Godden, Irwin Shapiro and Aileen Fisher to the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.
She was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas and grew up in Oklahoma She obtained a BA at Stephens College (who awarded her the Alumnae Achievement Award in 1964) then attended the University of Missouri and moved to New York in 1929 to study at the American School of Design and until 1949 she was a free-lance designer of displays, murals, textiles, greeting cards etc. She married children's book writer John Anderson in 1935 and in 1942 illustrated one of his books Bag of Smoke to begin her career as an illustrator becoming full-time in 1952. In total she illustrated more than 30 books, from contemporary authors such as Rumer Godden, Irwin Shapiro and Aileen Fisher to the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 8, 2020
5 star illustrations and 3 star story. I love this illustrator's work, her witches are lovely, very atmospheric and spooky in a fun non scary way. The children go to a witches Halloween party and there are some beautiful scenes. As this is a US party the children dress as anything which always seems unusual to UK readers who would expect Halloween fancy dress to only be Halloween themed! I was also surprised to see the word Yay in this story, I have only heard that used in recent years in the UK so assumed this was a modern expression!
Read on open library.
Read on open library.
October 10, 2018
The woodland witches who first appeared in Adrienne Adams'
A Woggle of Witches
return in this adorable Halloween picture-book (they're even sleeping in the same hammocks, strung between the trees!), inviting a group of children to a holiday extravaganza. With a pumpkin tower built around a tree, delightful treats like toad tarts, and a special aerial surprise at the end, the witch's gathering turns out to be one Halloween happening that the young guests will never forget!
Unsurprisingly, given my fondness for her work, I really enjoyed Adrienne Adams' illustrations in A Halloween Happening, particularly the scene in which the witches are just waking up (in those hammocks! how I love the idea of those witchy hammocks!), and the one in which the children climb the inside of the pumpkin tower, in their wonderful trick-or-treating costumes. That said, the narrative here leaves a little bit to be desired, consisting almost entirely of dialogue. I'm not sure, really, that it makes for that engaging a story. Still, Adrienne Adams' fans will enjoying poring over the artwork!
Unsurprisingly, given my fondness for her work, I really enjoyed Adrienne Adams' illustrations in A Halloween Happening, particularly the scene in which the witches are just waking up (in those hammocks! how I love the idea of those witchy hammocks!), and the one in which the children climb the inside of the pumpkin tower, in their wonderful trick-or-treating costumes. That said, the narrative here leaves a little bit to be desired, consisting almost entirely of dialogue. I'm not sure, really, that it makes for that engaging a story. Still, Adrienne Adams' fans will enjoying poring over the artwork!
September 7, 2013
I'm probably a bit biased with this book seeing as how Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I adored this book as a child, but I couldn't stop myself from giving A Halloween Happening five stars. The illustrations are absolutely eye-catching and the idea of children joining witches for a party in the woods and flying on their broomsticks is magical. It really opens up the imagination for children and welcomes them into a world of Halloween fun! I will definitely be saving this one for my children.
October 13, 2010
For me, this was more of a 3 star book, but I gave it 4 because I think the art and style will appeal more to others--and I LOVE the concept/plot! It's definitely a great Halloween book.
July 26, 2021
The illustrations are incredible, very atmospheric, definitely 5 star but the story for me is only a 2 star. Nice concept but clumsy delivery.
November 16, 2017
I love the premise of this book and story. A group of witches (actual witches) gather together to hold a big party for the local children. They building a mammoth tower out of pumpkis and an immense tree and then invite them all. The children arrive not realizing what they are in for and Have a party they'd never expected including one on one rides through the night air with the witches. Everything in this story is magical. However I would have liked to see it take a creepier more Halloweeny tone instead of everyone just throwing a nice party. But the ideas are quite great. Albeit the bat gliders are a bit strange. Why not brooms? heh. It's original I'll give it that. The art is good but nothing stand-out.
It's the concept and story I really like. The dialogue and narration however is a little stale.
It's the concept and story I really like. The dialogue and narration however is a little stale.
October 31, 2017
From today's perspective, this is a very sedate little book with no excitement, no prose or cadence. The illustrations are wonderful in a soft way. My major objection to the book is that the witches massacred a lovely tree while preparing for their celebration. There is no justification for that! I think most of today's children will find this book boring.
October 11, 2018
Toad tarts, bat candy, worm waffles, wart soup, and scrambled lizard eggs!
"Nothing is too good for the children!"
I liked this one much better than aA Woggle of Witches, which is saying something because that was alos 5 stars for me. Great concept and lovely illustrations.
"Nothing is too good for the children!"
I liked this one much better than aA Woggle of Witches, which is saying something because that was alos 5 stars for me. Great concept and lovely illustrations.
October 14, 2017
Oh, those poor misunderstood witches....
October 17, 2017
It was pretty good
October 20, 2018
Very cute. The illustrations remind me of the slightly creepy wallpaper people used to put up in their kids bedrooms.
August 16, 2019
A fairly typical Halloween-party-with-the-witches but with a very definite twist!
October 30, 2020
Very Clever - what fun!
September 2, 2022
That was quite the pumpkin tower. The narrative is all dialogue with no character names.
September 19, 2023
Mostly done in all dialogue, this story is a fun treat for Halloween but doesn't hold up to the author's other picture book, A Woggle of Witches. My rating - 3/5
October 6, 2023
A truly beautifully illustrated children's Halloween book that encourages children to learn from adults, be brave in the world, and celebrate the best holiday of the year. A witchly wonderful book!
November 16, 2023
I feel as though this books sums up my Gen X childhood…
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October 23, 2024The grammar and story was a little off.
September 7, 2019
A community of witches invite human children to celebrate Halloween with them.
Adults may not understand witches, but children do, so a woggle of witches decide to throw a Halloween party and invite them. They build a tower out of jack-o-lanterns at the edge of a cornfield with a platform for batwing hang gliding at the very top.
Adrienne Adams uses the word "woggle" for a group of witches instead of the word "coven," which may make the book more acceptable to the anti-Halloween crowd. It's the illustrations that make the book memorable rather than the text, and they have stayed with me since childhood. The color palate is dark and muted. The witches all look like identical stereotypical witches with friendly dispositions. The way the author-illustrator draws pumpkins reminds me of Charles Wysocki's pumpkins in his paintings of fall landscapes, which I have always liked.
By modern standards the story is very tame. As a child, I wanted nothing more than to be invited to a Halloween party hosted by real witches in a tower made of jack-o-lanterns built around a spooky old tree. That would be the best Halloween party ever.
There is a bittersweet note to this story. As mentioned at the very beginning of the story, human encroachment upon the witches' territory is on the verge of displacing them, and they will soon be driven out. Yet they invite the children of those about to dispossess them to share in their culture. It's not so much an olive branch as a farewell. This is a detail that I missed as a child but that struck me as an adult.
Adults may not understand witches, but children do, so a woggle of witches decide to throw a Halloween party and invite them. They build a tower out of jack-o-lanterns at the edge of a cornfield with a platform for batwing hang gliding at the very top.
Adrienne Adams uses the word "woggle" for a group of witches instead of the word "coven," which may make the book more acceptable to the anti-Halloween crowd. It's the illustrations that make the book memorable rather than the text, and they have stayed with me since childhood. The color palate is dark and muted. The witches all look like identical stereotypical witches with friendly dispositions. The way the author-illustrator draws pumpkins reminds me of Charles Wysocki's pumpkins in his paintings of fall landscapes, which I have always liked.
By modern standards the story is very tame. As a child, I wanted nothing more than to be invited to a Halloween party hosted by real witches in a tower made of jack-o-lanterns built around a spooky old tree. That would be the best Halloween party ever.
There is a bittersweet note to this story. As mentioned at the very beginning of the story, human encroachment upon the witches' territory is on the verge of displacing them, and they will soon be driven out. Yet they invite the children of those about to dispossess them to share in their culture. It's not so much an olive branch as a farewell. This is a detail that I missed as a child but that struck me as an adult.
October 23, 2014
A Halloween Happening by Adrienne Adams was published in 1981. In the story, a group of witches wake up to realize it was already Halloween and they had a party to put on for the children. They get together pumpkins, food, and activities for the children in a short amount of time. The children come to the party and take part in all of the activities before having to be home by bedtime.
This Halloween story focuses on witches, which I found interesting because the author did not give witches the stereotypical attitudes that are usually portrayed. In A Halloween Happening the witches are nice and want to put on a party for the children to enjoy rather than to leer them in to eat them. All of the images show the witches smiling, as well as the pumpkins that they carve. The only characteristic that is still stereotypical about the witches is their outfits. They are still wearing a long black gown and a pointy witches hat. I think it was refreshing to have a story show a different point of view.
Throughout the book the characters overcome a variety of tasks and obstacles. The first challenge that is overcome is the party the witches throw for the children. They accomplished a great success in a limited amount of time. The next is the fear the children had when first encountering the party. Another is when the children trust the witches to actually eat the food and take part in the activities. Then the last is the responsibility of leaving the party in time to be home by bedtime like the children promised they would be. All of these tasks show personal growth and are learning lessons and motivation for the reader.
This Halloween story focuses on witches, which I found interesting because the author did not give witches the stereotypical attitudes that are usually portrayed. In A Halloween Happening the witches are nice and want to put on a party for the children to enjoy rather than to leer them in to eat them. All of the images show the witches smiling, as well as the pumpkins that they carve. The only characteristic that is still stereotypical about the witches is their outfits. They are still wearing a long black gown and a pointy witches hat. I think it was refreshing to have a story show a different point of view.
Throughout the book the characters overcome a variety of tasks and obstacles. The first challenge that is overcome is the party the witches throw for the children. They accomplished a great success in a limited amount of time. The next is the fear the children had when first encountering the party. Another is when the children trust the witches to actually eat the food and take part in the activities. Then the last is the responsibility of leaving the party in time to be home by bedtime like the children promised they would be. All of these tasks show personal growth and are learning lessons and motivation for the reader.
October 5, 2015
I think this is the book I've been trying to re-discover that I read once as I kid. Anyway, I definitely was looking for something that involved a tower of pumpkins with a party happening inside it (how many picture books can that be?).
The illustrations are pretty, but the accompanying narration is kind of text-heavy for what seems targeted (based on the story's simplicity) for very young ages. The plot is ridiculously straightforward, even for a picture book: some witches wake up on Halloween and decide to throw a party for children to attend. The kids attend, have a good time, and everyone plans on coming back for next year. Not even the barest pretense of conflict to be overcome or resolved or corrected. Because the text is presented in big blocks to go along with a 1-2 page illustration, dialogue is all vaguely laid out without typically being attributed to any one character ("Wanda Witch" is the only one who ever introduces herself).
The illustrations are pretty, but the accompanying narration is kind of text-heavy for what seems targeted (based on the story's simplicity) for very young ages. The plot is ridiculously straightforward, even for a picture book: some witches wake up on Halloween and decide to throw a party for children to attend. The kids attend, have a good time, and everyone plans on coming back for next year. Not even the barest pretense of conflict to be overcome or resolved or corrected. Because the text is presented in big blocks to go along with a 1-2 page illustration, dialogue is all vaguely laid out without typically being attributed to any one character ("Wanda Witch" is the only one who ever introduces herself).
October 27, 2012
We read A Woggle of Witches by Adrienne Adams last year. When I saw that this book was available at our local library, I jumped at the chance to read it, too. It has a wonderful, spooky, and fun feel to it and the illustrations are dark, with rich colors and a fun atmosphere.
The only complaint I have with this book is the style of the narration. It's snippets of conversation that weave together to tell a tale, but it just feels weird when I read it aloud. Still, the story is entertaining and helped put us in the mood for the Halloween-themed dance at our girls' elementary school.
The only complaint I have with this book is the style of the narration. It's snippets of conversation that weave together to tell a tale, but it just feels weird when I read it aloud. Still, the story is entertaining and helped put us in the mood for the Halloween-themed dance at our girls' elementary school.
September 20, 2011
One of my very favorite books from my childhood! I love, love, love it!
November 19, 2014
One of my favs as a little girl.
September 30, 2020
We really appreciated the illustrations and the simple, clear language used in this book. It was really neat to see a book filled with dialogue from many voices, without attribution.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews