Where I grew up, on the island of Cyprus, Halloween wasn't something that people celebrated. I had to wait until I moved to the States before I was finally able to enjoy Halloween. Mind you, it wasn't until we moved to Oregon that I really got into the spirit of things and started dressing up. Unlike poor Scaredy Squirrel, I love Halloween, though some of the costumes people around here wear are definitely scary.
Scaredy Squirrel prepares for Halloween: A Safety Guide for Scaredies
Scaredy Squirrel prepares for Halloween: A Safety Guide for Scaredies
Melanie Watt
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 8
Kids Can Press, 2013, 978-1-894786-87-4
Scaredy Squirrel is the kind of creature who likes to be
ready for every possible event. Really ready.
He loves “lists, plans and safety
equipment,” and hates “danger and unpredictability.” Because of these loves and
hates, Scaredy Squirrel has put together this guide to help people who are like
him. As far as Scaredy is concerned Halloween decorations are “nerve-wracking”
and Halloween itself makes him “pass out.” If you have a similar reaction to
Halloween then this guide was written for you.
The guide is divided into eight chapters, and
it is “designed to help you prepare for and survive Halloween, all in one
piece!”
In the first
chapter Scaredy shows his readers how to get their living area ready for
Halloween. Scaredy provides us with an illustration that shows us how to use
garlic, a scarecrow, a blender, bug repellent, caution tape and a doghouse to
make our home safe from werewolves, creepy crawlies, ghosts and goblins, black
cats and witches, and vampires. Who knew that such everyday items could be so
useful!
Next, Scaredy
tackles the subject of Halloween decorations. Scaredy appreciates that Halloween
jitters might cause you to experience decorating problems, so he shows you how
to carve a pumpkin safely, how to decorate your front door so that it is
“inviting,” and how to make your living room “ghoulish” but “not too ghoulish.”
Choosing a
Halloween costume is not easy, but Scaredy’s ingenious ideas you are sure to
help you to find something that suits your personality. He looks at costumes
that are classics, some that are fun, and a few that will appeal to people of
action. There are also hero and villain costumes, fairy tale and science
fiction costumes. He considers the advantages of makeup versus masks, and he
shows us how to make three do-it-yourself costumes.
The next four
chapters look at “Halloween trick-or-treating,” “Halloween candy,” “Halloween
Notes,” and “Halloween Fun.” Then Scaredy wraps up with a chapter titled “If
all else fails …” which does not need to be described as the title says it all.
For readers who
know Scaredy Squirrel already, this new title is sure to reinforce the connection
that they have with this delightful little animal. For readers who have never
met Scaredy before, this title will show them what they have been missing!
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