Halloween reading is upon us. If your reader is starting to advance past picture books, but needs something a little less intimidating, The Skull and Crimson Twill: Witch in the Country offer the feel of chapter reading while still leaning into illustrations.
THE SKULL: A Tyrolean Folktale, by Jon Klassen, Candlewick, July 11, 2023, Hardcover, $19.99 (ages 4-10)
Jon Klassen’s signature wry humor takes a turn for the ghostly in this thrilling retelling of a traditional Tyrolean folktale. In a big abandoned house, on a barren hill, lives a skull. A brave girl named Otilla has escaped from terrible danger and run away, and when she finds herself lost in the dark forest, the lonely house beckons. Her host, the skull, is afraid of something too, something that comes every night. Can brave Otilla save them both? —Synopsis provided by Candlewick
I recently passed this book on to a friend whose son needed to read a “fairy tale” book and do a report on it. He’s not a confident reader, but The Skull had immediate appeal. Klassen’s monochromatic artwork is an immediate draw. There’s a subtlety to Klassen’s humor that really resonates with kids.
CRIMSON TWILL: WITCH IN THE COUNTRY, by Kallie George and Birgitta Sif, Candlewick, July 11, 2023, Hardcover, $15.99 (ages 7-10)
Crimson Twill’s new friends from New Wart City, Mauve and Wesley, are coming for a visit! But as soon as they arrive at Crimson’s house in Cackle County, things start to go wrong. At the rotten apple orchard, Crimson’s ripening spell goes horribly awry (what will they do with all that rotten applesauce?).
Then, at the broom-straw field, Wesley cuts too much straw and starts to float away. And when the friends try to collect frogs’ breath for their spells (it makes everything wonderfully green and warty), Mauve gets a stinky faceful of it!
What on earth is going on? The whole countryside feels like something big is about to happen, and Crimson wonders if it has something to do with Granny Twill and that giant cauldron of stew she made. Can Crimson get to the bottom of this bad-luck mystery? And, more importantly, will her city friends ever want to visit her again? —Synopsis provided by Candlewick
This is the second book in the Crimson Twill series, but they don’t have to be read in order. It features cute characters and heartfelt storylines that will appeal to readers. Black-and-white illustrations bring the story to life.
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