Date: Fri 20-Oct-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Location: A-11

Quick Words:

Halloween-books-Monster-Owen

Full Text:

Halloween Books: Where Every Treat Has Its Trick

(with book covers)

By Joanne Grecho Rochman

Pumpkin patches, haunted houses and frightful frenzy are the order of the day,

as the hallowed eve quickly approaches. Be sure to leave time in your scary

schedules for the ghosts, goblins and ghouls that tell their stories in

entertaining books. These books are Halloween treats, even though each one has

a bit of a trick to it.

My Costume Book , by Cheryl Owen; Salamander Books Ltd., Little Brown and Co.,

hardcover, 96 pages, $15.95 (ages 7-11).

Before reaching for a loot bag, reach for this colorful how-to costume book.

This is one book that will tickle the fancy of any young trickster because

many of the costumes can be made by the children themselves.

The instructions are explicit and accompanied by detailed illustrations.

Easy-to-copy patterns and easy-to-follow directions turn expectation into

realization. While all the costumes can be tackled by older children, parents

are advised to supervise costumes that require the use of a hot iron or sewing

machine.

Included in this very imaginative book is a stunning "Southern Belle" creation

made from large plastic trash bags. You will also find a friendly lion with

golden fur, a Parisian artist, a rag doll, a black cat with a nose made from a

single section of a cardboard egg carton and space cadets decked out in silver

sticky-backed plastic.

Cheryl Owen of England has not only created a Halloween treat through some

clever and tricky ideas, but she has created a book that will provide hours of

fun for children who are snowbound, house-bound on a rainy day or planning a

masquerade party. The author has also written My Nature Craft Book and My Park

Book .

Ed Emberley's Halloween Drawing Book , by Ed Emberley; Little Brown and Co.,

paperback, 34 pages, $4.95 (all ages).

Packaged with an inviting bright orange and black cover with creepy creatures

looking out of the windows of a haunted house, you will not be able to resist

trying to draw the interesting figures in this Halloween novelty book. Artist

Ed Emberley will have youngsters drawing dangling spiders, flying witches and

dancing skeletons in minutes.

Using simple shapes and forms, the artist helps readers create and re-create

Halloween silhouettes, a spooky house, a train full of weird characters and a

black cat or two. Not only does this book introduce youngsters to a positive

artistic experience, but it sharpens skills and encourages creativity. The

step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and will produce hours of happy

results.

Creepy Kokey , by Sally Kindberg; Little Brown and Company, hardcover, 24

pages, $14.95 (ages 5-10).

Turn the pages and press the button and you will not only see creepy

characters, but you will hear spooky sounds.

This novelty book features a built-in musical version of "The Hokey Pokey."

Youngsters can sing along to the battery-operated music with lyrics that are

especially "ear"-marked for Halloween.

"You put your crumbly hand in,

You put your crumbly hand out-

MIND THOSE BANDAGES, MUMMY!

In, out, in, out,

Shake it all about

You do the Creepy Kokey,

You turn around,

And that's what it's all about."

Illustrated by the author, the book features a place at the edge of town where

no one walks after dark... especially if the moon is full. The only

inhabitants are giant spiders, dancing mummies and scaly monsters, all doing

the Creepy Kokey. The comic illustrations entertain rather than frighten.

Monster's Lunch Box , by Marc Brown; Little Brown and Company, hardcover, 8

pages, $14.95 (ages 4-8).

Look into a monster's lunch box and you will find a sandwich of lizard eyes,

moldy cheese, blue baloney, brown lettuce and a black tomato.

Author/illustrator Marc Brown has designed a book to look just like a lunch

box, complete with a purple handle. When youngsters open their lunchtime

reading treat, they will discover delicious pop-ups, reusable stickers and

furry, hairy samples of creepy delicacies. This book is a real Halloween

treasure.

Marc Brown is the author and illustrator of the Arthur Adventure series, as

well as several books featuring Arthur's little sister. He lives in Hingham,

MA.

Star Wars: The Mos Eisley Cantina Pop-Up Book , by Kevin J. Anderson and

Rebecca Moesta, illustrated by Ralph McQuarrie; hardcover, 16 pages, $19.95

(all ages).

The most popular spot on the desert world of Tatooine comes to life at the

cantina, where bounty hunters, fugitives, spies and scam artists come together

to make deals and sell secrets. "If there's a bright center to the universe,

Tatooine is the place it's farthest from," says the book.

You can expect lots of action at such a place, and this book provides visual

and audio accompaniments to heighten the action. Dangerous journeymen,

ferocious dragons, scavengers and sandcrawlers find what they are looking for

at this fabulous three-dimensional cantina.

The pop-up section of the book features the original cantina band music from

Star Wars and flashing lights from space tech weapons. Adults as well as

children will be thrilled with this Halloween treat.

Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta have worked on many Star Wars projects,

including the "Young Jedi Knights" adventures. Mr Anderson is also the author

of the best-selling Jedi Academy trilogy.

Award-winning artist Ralph McQuarrie has worked as a conceptual illustrator

for many films, including the Star Wars trilogy.