FICTION

Scarecrow Magic

by Ed MASESSA
illus. by Matt Myers. 32p. Orchard. 2015. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780545691093.
COPY ISBN
Gr 1–3—A scarecrow with a sinister look is featured in this eerie fall time book. Every night as the moon glows, a scarecrow begins to come to life. "Hung from a post, a man made of straw/Moves a finger, a hand, an eyebrow, a jaw." After slipping out of his skin, he is a skeleton and is joined by other troublesome creatures to play. Games such as pumpkin bowling and double Dutch are shown as the goblins and ghouls eat treats, such as slimy fresh worms, all through the night. As the sun begins to shine, the creatures all return to where they came from. Myers's acrylic illustrations are truly spooky, especially when the scarecrow loses his skin, and could make the book a touch too scary for young ones.
VERDICT This chilling fall book is perfect for elementary students who are not quite ready for Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark.
Reviewed by Brooke Newberry, La Crosse Public Library, WI
Stripping off his layers of straw and clothing, a skeleton finishes his workday as a scarecrow and meets up with “ghoulies and ghosties” to “dance under the moon.” A large cast of monsters (furry, scaly, two-headed, or giant) spend all night with the scarecrow, playing games (including hide-and-seek and jacks) and fighting mock battles until the sun starts to rise. Myers’s inventive “troublesome” creatures and ecstatically animated skeleton are depicted through strong black outlines and thick, bold strokes. The rhyming (though occasionally stumbling) text and playful illustrations make this a festive read-aloud. siân gaetano
Stripping off layers of straw and clothing, a skeleton finishes his workday as a scarecrow and meets up with "ghoulies and ghosties" to "dance under the moon." A large cast of monsters spend all night with the scarecrow, playing games (including hide-and-seek) and fighting mock battles until the sun starts to rise. The rhyming text and playful illustrations make this a festive read-aloud.
 , Sep 01, 2015

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