Trick or Treat, Old Armadillo

Gr 1-3 Old Armadillo, the star of "Merry Christmas, Old Armadillo"(Boyds Mills, 1995), can't wait to celebrate Halloween. He gets his treats ready and settles in with a good book of ghost stories. While he anxiously waits for ghouls and pirates to knock on his door, his friends assemble outside, ready to scare him. However, it is Armadillo who scares the others. Brimner infuses this tale with humor and Southwestern flavor. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout and defined in a glossary at the beginning of the book. All of Old Armadillo's friends dress in outlandish costumes, and their affection for one another is evident in their good cheer. Most spreads have a large picture showing the action outside the house as well as a small illustration of the armadillo. Catalano's dark pastel illustrations work well with the text, setting the stage for the spooky night and a few spooky stories. The narrative is too long for storytimes, but it would work well for one-on-one sharing.-"Susan E. Murray, Glendale Public Library, AZ" Copyright 2010 Media Source Inc.