Monster Needs a Costume

PreS-Gr 2—It's nearly Halloween, and Monster is having trouble deciding on just the right look. With the encouragement of a young boy, the creature enthusiastically tries out several different costumes-cowboy, pink-tutu-wearing ballet dancer, masked ninja-but tires of each outfit before the big day. Never fear, Monster manages to come up with a mix-and-match ensemble that makes him a standout among the trick-or-treaters. Jaunty rhymes are paired with slick animation-style cartoon artwork that depicts a not-too-frightening fuzzy beast with sharp teeth, long claws, yellow horns, and a winning smile. The cadenced text and humorous illustrations work well together for a lighthearted read-aloud. An additional purchase for collections in which soft-on-the-scary Halloween tales are in high demand.—Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal