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Halloween
Halloween portrays three trick-or-treaters' moonlit revels.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 4, 2017
Tonight is the night
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.
Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.
Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghoul and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen.
It's Halloween.
When dead leaves fly
Like witches on switches
Across the sky,
When elf and sprite
Flit through the night
On a moony sheen.
Tonight is the night
When leaves make a sound
Like a gnome in his home
Under the ground,
When spooks and trolls
Creep out of holes
Mossy and green.
Tonight is the night
When pumpkins stare
Through sheaves and leaves
Everywhere,
When ghoul and ghost
And goblin host
Dance round their queen.
It's Halloween.
September 17, 2016
I thought this poetry book was cute and educational in value. In the classroom, it could be used around Halloween, therefore, the students could have fun with the material. It rhymes and uses similes, as well as, provides the opportunity to build the vocabulary of the reader. The readers can use the beautiful illustrations and surrounding text to decipher the words they do not know. Halloween is one of my most favorite holidays. This book captures the mood of Halloween from its catchy rhymes to its appropriate illustrations. I was most drawn to the story when it refers to how the pumpkins stare. I remember Halloween night, walking around trick or treating as a child and seeing all the different kinds of pumpkins staring at me! I would most definitely recommend this poetry book to other readers and teachers.
October 27, 2011
Neat, spooky, ethereal illustrations.
October 31, 2025
"Tonight is the night / When dead leaves fly / Like witches on switches / Across the sky, / When elf and sprite / Flit through the night / On a moony sheen." So begins Harry Behn's Halloween poem, which provides the text for this wonderfully spooky seasonal picture book. The words are accompanied by gorgeously atmospheric illustrations from Greg Couch, depicting three young trick-or-treaters making their way through a dark and windy night. Dressed up as a devil, witch and skeleton, they experience many delicious thrills, ending up at a party in a graveyard...
I have encountered the poem in Halloween before, in Myra Cohn Livingston's 1989 collection, Halloween Poems , although it first saw print in Behn's own collection from 1949, The Little Hill: Poems & Pictures . I have also encountered Greg Couch's artwork before, in Lynn Plourde's Mother Earth & Father Time quartet of seasonal picture books. I am so glad I stumbled across this title on my library's Halloween display last week, as I found the combination of text and image here outstanding! The poem reads well and is quite expressive, capturing the wild sense of adventure and thrills on a Halloween night, while the artwork is delightfully spooky, making excellent use of color and light. I think my favorite scene, visually speaking, was the one in which the three trick-or-treaters were running across the backdrop of a massive pumpkin-colored moon. I will definitely be looking for more from both of these creators! Recommended to anyone seeking poetic picture books (on the scary side) for Halloween.
I have encountered the poem in Halloween before, in Myra Cohn Livingston's 1989 collection, Halloween Poems , although it first saw print in Behn's own collection from 1949, The Little Hill: Poems & Pictures . I have also encountered Greg Couch's artwork before, in Lynn Plourde's Mother Earth & Father Time quartet of seasonal picture books. I am so glad I stumbled across this title on my library's Halloween display last week, as I found the combination of text and image here outstanding! The poem reads well and is quite expressive, capturing the wild sense of adventure and thrills on a Halloween night, while the artwork is delightfully spooky, making excellent use of color and light. I think my favorite scene, visually speaking, was the one in which the three trick-or-treaters were running across the backdrop of a massive pumpkin-colored moon. I will definitely be looking for more from both of these creators! Recommended to anyone seeking poetic picture books (on the scary side) for Halloween.
October 15, 2024
I didn’t like the illustrations. More abstract. The costumes were generic too, like ones you’ve seen in other books. Nothing new there either. I guess they can’t do costumes from movies or shows for the copyright, but there’s still lots of options to choose from…
This ended like other books have, with the kids going to a party with the ghosts and goblins who scared them. They’re really friendly and not scary. So this was nothing new.
I didn’t care for the rhyming. Some words were used just because they rhymed but it didn’t make sense.
And the ending; dancing with their queen? And it’s this weird huge gold shape out of the flames and smoke.
‘Tonight in the night when leaves make a sound. Like a gnome in his home under the ground.’
‘When ghoul and ghost and goblin host dance round their queen.’
I did like ‘tonight is the night when dead leaves fly. Like witches on switches across the sky.’
‘Tonight is the night when pumpkins stare through sheaves and leaves everywhere.’
I liked the orange page with the big pumpkin(the sun in the sky). And the blue page of the kids in a cemetery.
This ended like other books have, with the kids going to a party with the ghosts and goblins who scared them. They’re really friendly and not scary. So this was nothing new.
I didn’t care for the rhyming. Some words were used just because they rhymed but it didn’t make sense.
And the ending; dancing with their queen? And it’s this weird huge gold shape out of the flames and smoke.
‘Tonight in the night when leaves make a sound. Like a gnome in his home under the ground.’
‘When ghoul and ghost and goblin host dance round their queen.’
I did like ‘tonight is the night when dead leaves fly. Like witches on switches across the sky.’
‘Tonight is the night when pumpkins stare through sheaves and leaves everywhere.’
I liked the orange page with the big pumpkin(the sun in the sky). And the blue page of the kids in a cemetery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2017
Fantastic wonderful spooky Halloween book. It does not bother telling you about Halloween, it shows you. It made me feel like I was reading Bradbury's Halloween Tree all over again. So great. The artist uses a particular style that is very spooky indeed. The author gives us a very nice Halloween poem and they fill it with great imagery. It's good to see great use of monsters.
October 14, 2020
An atmospheric poem describes spooky Halloween occurrences.
While the child trick-or-treaters in the illustrations eventually overcome their fear and join in the supernatural revelry, this book presents the scarier side of Halloween. The artwork, which features a Disney “Fantasia” “Night on Bald Mountain” inspired fire demon, has a surreal frightening tone that may upset young children.
While the child trick-or-treaters in the illustrations eventually overcome their fear and join in the supernatural revelry, this book presents the scarier side of Halloween. The artwork, which features a Disney “Fantasia” “Night on Bald Mountain” inspired fire demon, has a surreal frightening tone that may upset young children.
October 17, 2021
What a freaky Halloween!
The book started out as the trick-or-treaters just seeing little wisps of leaves or seeds that looked like creepy things. I probably would have given it 4 stars had it stayed that way. Unfortunately, the author couldn't help himself and made actual trolls and stuff by the end. Too bad.
The book started out as the trick-or-treaters just seeing little wisps of leaves or seeds that looked like creepy things. I probably would have given it 4 stars had it stayed that way. Unfortunately, the author couldn't help himself and made actual trolls and stuff by the end. Too bad.
October 6, 2018
A spooky book whose illustrations really convene the feeling of the atmosphere during a full moon. The poetic text's spooky creepy feelings builds until the end.
June 7, 2019
Exquisite paintings, and delightful rhymes.
September 11, 2019
Dark, spooky, and atmospheric illustrations!
October 19, 2021
Cute scary pictures until the celebration.
October 12, 2023
The illustrations really give this poem turned into a book the best spooky vibes!
February 28, 2014
Halloween is a picture book that tells its story by poem and does a wonderful job doing so. The book follows three Trick or Treaters on Halloween night and shows what the moonlit night reveals as they walk.
The illustrations are great; spooky and fun at the same time. I think this books really captures the spirit of Halloween. It's a bit spooky, there are a lot of strange creatures to be seen and the Trick or Treaters have a lot of fun.
Really a nice picture book about Halloween. I had fun reading it.
The illustrations are great; spooky and fun at the same time. I think this books really captures the spirit of Halloween. It's a bit spooky, there are a lot of strange creatures to be seen and the Trick or Treaters have a lot of fun.
Really a nice picture book about Halloween. I had fun reading it.
November 4, 2012
"Halloween" by Harry Behn, is a delightful picture book with very simple text which is illustrated beautifully by Greg Couch. The poem directs the scenes on each page - /Tonight is the night when dead leaves fly/ is illustrated by three trick-or-treaters walking on a pile of dead leaves on a dark cloudy night that casts a dream-like-state. The stunning illustrations are an equal partner to the poem.
October 21, 2013
The poem is simplistic and boring -- even by picture-book standards -- but the illustrations are gorgeous: lavish, spooky and generous to careful young readers who'll discover myriad small details throughout.
October 25, 2013
A book my 5 yr old as well as my twin 3 yr olds loved. A solid reading level 1 book, this Halloween story keeps all ages engaged with the bright colorful pictures and cute story. A great addition to any children's library.
November 3, 2010
An illustrated poem that describes some of the spooky events that occur on Halloween night.
Notes: "A Cheshire Studio book."
Notes: "A Cheshire Studio book."
September 20, 2013
This nifty little book truly captures the spirit of that eerie night with this homage to all things deliciously magic and spooky. Told in lovely verse with ghostly blue illustrations that compliment.
December 20, 2015
This book was great.
-Malachi (age 7)
-Malachi (age 7)
November 18, 2017
Beautiful illustrations.
Halloween storytime.
Josie x 3
Halloween storytime.
Josie x 3
November 3, 2016
Age 4/2016 liked it a lot. Beautiful pictures, simple rhyme, not a story.
January 11, 2018
Beautiful illustrations and nice Halloween story!
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August 29, 2018It would be fun to recite 'Tonight is the night" for a storytime. The words are a bit advanced for toddlers, and the images are a bit spooky/atmospheric. But maybe for preschool?
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews