Spooky Celebrations Around the World

Gr 4-6–A captivating exploration of spooky celebrations. Starting with Halloween, Ralphs takes readers on an adventure, exploring eerie celebrations from regions, including Northern Europe, Benin, South Asia, and Nigeria, with festivals like Samhain, Vodun, Pitru Paksha, and Awuru Odo. He dives into the origins and traditions of 21 distinct celebrations, with an additional 10 getting quick mentions at the end. Some of these festivals may be unfamiliar to readers, but sufficient information highlights their unique aspects and similarities, sparking curiosity to learn more. Each spread is set up much like a DK Eyewitness book, with illustrated vignettes and descriptive text. The collection does not come with a table of contents or index. Richly hued illustrations possess much detail and manage to convey the customs and ambiance of each unique international celebration. People are depicted in tones of yellow, pinks, and browns (unless they are among the unliving; then they are a pale green). The bold palette also boasts many deep blues, grays, and oranges, lending to the spooky feel. This collection will surely be enjoyed during the fall season, but don’t tuck it away with the holiday books. Many eerie festivities take place throughout the year.