Houghton Mifflin 2010
A Junior Library Guild Selection
A modern master of nonsense verse reaches new heights of giddiness with this Halloween-themed collection. . . . Nefariously silly indeed.
– Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Brown’s acrylic illustrations add to the creepy silliness: an artful mix of naive and stylized, whimsical details and vibrant color. Young readers will relish the wordplay and find themselves torn to choose a favorite among this wacky menagerie.
– School Library Journal, starred review
A proven master of the tongue-twister (“Polkabats and Octopus Slacks,” “Flamingos on the Roof”), Calef Brown is at his best in this tour de force of autumnal perambulations that will have kids and adults giggling at his word play.
– Literary Features Syndicate
Author-illustrator Brown returns here with a new collection of verse, this time with a spooky, Halloween-friendly flavor. The fourteen poems feature subjects ranging from witches and mummies to portmanteau horrors such as the “vumpire” and the “poltergeyser” to more elaborate creepouts such as “The Portrait of Gory René.” The strong acrylic hues, fanciful shades, and antic energy provide imaginative support for the poems. Kids will relish
the spooky browsability and tongue-rolling horror, while readers-aloud will find year-round as well as seasonal opportunities to slip in a poem or two.
– The Bulletin of The Center for Children’s Books