“ONE SPOOKY NIGHT: A Halloween Adventure,” by Kate Stone, Accord Publishing, Aug. 9, 2011, $11.99 (ages 6 and up) and “THE RAINBOW BOOK,” by Kate Ohrt, Accord Publishing, February 2011, $9.99 (ages 6 and up)
If you’re looking for a different kind of Halloween book, one that the whole family can enjoy, then “One Spooky Night,” by Kate Stone, might just fit the bill.
One dark and spooky night a little monster walked in the moonlight. Neither bats nor hooting owls make him shudder. Little ghosts cross the stream, but he knows they are not mean. A black cat may not scare him either, but what about when he reaches the spookiest spot?
Alone, all of the elements of “One Spooky Night” work but not well. Together they come to make an enchanting and fun Halloween read. What are those elements? Simple, yet rhythmical text that draws readers from one page to the next, and intricately cut pages overlaid with vellum that creates an otherworldly feel.
Though one would thing cutouts would make this book more delicate, its construction is sturdy and should withhold the normal wear seen with children and books.
If Halloween isn’t your thing, Accord earlier this year came out with another cut out book that you might find more appealing.
“The Rainbow Book,” by Kate Ohrt, looks at the colors of the rainbow both as single elements an as a whole. Ohrt builds on emotions often associated with colors starting with, “Some days everything feels black and white, but usually … I feel more colorful.” From there, the rainbow literally unfolds with each turn of the page. The kaleidoscope effect is bold and entertaining for children and adults.
