BOOKS

Yo Ho Ho, Halloween!

by Pam Muñoz RYAN
Yo Ho Ho, Halloween! illus. by Edwin Fotheringham. 40p. (Tony Baloney). Scholastic. Jun. 2016. Tr $6.99. ISBN 9780545908856.
COPY ISBN
K-Gr 2—Ryan continues her early reader series about a lovable penguin. Tony Baloney, a macaroni penguin, has saved up all of his money to buy the fancy pirate Halloween costume that he has had his eye on. His crafty penguin family are miffed that he eschews their annual tradition of making their own costumes; however, Tony has had it up to here with his bossy big sister and his bothersome baby siblings! Unfortunately, Tony also flaunts tradition when he wears his costume to school before Halloween. He suffers the consequences of breaking the rules when his teacher confiscates his costume. Luckily, his parents and siblings come to the rescue by crafting an even fancier and more creative costume just in time.
VERDICT This title might be a bit of a challenge for new readers, because of the busy conversations, but they will enjoy the wonderful illustrations and the expressive dynamic of the Baloney family.
Reviewed by Maria Alegre, The Dalton School, New York City
Macaroni penguin Tony "does not love trouble...but trouble loves him." When he ruins his store-bought pirate costume long before the school Halloween parade, Tony's family, instead of assigning blame, helps him still "stand out in the crowd." Saturated colors and vibrant, expressive line drawings highlight Tony's excitement and innocent misdeeds in a welcome addition to the popular series for emerging readers.
 , Sep 01, 2016

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BLOGS

Take Five: 2024 Middle Grade Native American Books
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Most Anticipated Young Adult Reads of 2025
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Most Anticipated Middle Grade Reads of 2025
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

Take Five: 2024 LGBTQIA+ Middle Grade Novels
by Amanda MacGregor
BLOGS

The Importance of Making Stories Personal, a guest post by Amy Christine Parker
by Amanda MacGregor
BOOKS

Your Letter
by Cho, Hyeon A
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?