Celebrate Halloween: With Pumpkins, Costumes, and Candy (Holidays Around The World Series) »

Deborah Heiligman is the award-winning author of many children’s books. Her ability to simplify complex subjects for young readers, specializing in the areas of science and social studies, has brought her wide acclaim. Her National Geographic titles include Honeybees, Babies: All You Need to Know, and High Hopes: A Photobiography of John F. Kennedy. She lives in New York City. Check out www.Deborah Heiligman.com and see what’s new to CELEBRATE....

Trick or treat? Celebrate Halloween is a real treat. Vivid images and Deborah Heiligman's lively, inviting text illuminate the spookiest night of the year. The book spirits readers on a front-seat tour of Halloween celebrations around the globe as it explores the rich history of this holiday, the creepy creatures associated with it, and the origins of such customs as carving jack-o'-lanterns and trick-or-treating. Halloween folklore, food, games, costumes, and traditions all combine in a most bewitching brew.

Children's Literature

Through crisp, clear appealing captioned photographs and a brief text, readers are introduced to the history of Halloween, where it is celebrated throughout the world, and how it is celebrated with "pumpkins, costumes, and candy." Bonfires, the pumpkin patch, house decorations, and costumes can be seen on these pages. There are costumed girls in their school parade in Tokyo, Japan, and witches on skates in the Philippines. The large type and clean layout with plenty of white space make this appropriate for primary grade use. There is a nine-word glossary that includes such words as Celts, goblin, and Samhain. For teachers, parents, and older children, there is an essay by Jack Santino, a professor of folklore and popular culture, at the back of the book. In it he discusses the history of the holiday, its evolution in the United States, the controversy over its celebration, and why there is "something about Halloween that speaks to the soul." Included are directions for playing "Snap-Apple," a favorite game in Ireland and the British Isles, and a recipe for making a Spooky Graveyard Cake. There are also annotated recommended books and websites, Halloween safety tips, and an explanation of the Mexican Day of the Dead. Part of the "Holidays Around the World" series, this also includes a world map showing where the photos were taken. Broaden your approach to Halloween with the geography angle of this fine title. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo