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Summary
Summary
Halloween is here and Petal and Poppy are going to a party! But Petal is scared. Halloween is too spooky. But Poppy assures Petal it's all just pretend. There's nothing to be afraid of. But then a haunted house scares Poppy. Maybe Halloween is a little spooky after all! The writing level and picture clues will help early readers perfect their reading technique, while the wonderful story--with just the right amount of spookiness--will spark a love of reading that will last a lifetime.
Author Notes
Lisa Clough and Ed Briant are the husband-and-wife creative team behind all the Petal and Poppy books. Under the name Lisa Jahn-Clough, Lisa has also written and illustrated Alicia's Bad Day and My Friend and I. Ed is also the creator of the comic "Tales from the Slushpile," published online with Publishers Weekly Childrens Bookshelf. They divide their time between Portland, Maine, and Clayton, New Jersey. Visit their websites, www.lisajahnclough.com and www.ebriant.com .
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-This beginning reader highlights the fun and fright of Halloween. Poppy, initially disguised as a devil, scares Petal until Petal realizes that she can make sparkling fairy wings as a fun alternative to the frightening costumes readily available. When they set out for the party, a flat tire on their bicycle leaves them abandoned outside of an eerie house, and Petal fixes it with the help of a little ghost. Poppy's earlier statement offers a dose of encouragement to Petal as the pair address their spooky surroundings: "Don't be a scaredy-cat. It is only a costume." When a gang of unusual creatures greets Poppy and Petal at the Halloween party, the friends realize their fear is all in good fun. Angular, digital animal cartoon characters keep the tone upbeat, while large panels emphasize each detailed scene with cheerful colors. A howling good addition that celebrates a favorite holiday.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Friends Petal the elephant and Poppy the rhino return in their third leveled reader, which begins with Poppy donning a monster costume to "spook" Petal. "It's only a costume," Poppy tells self-proclaimed "scaredy-cat" Petal, who responds with a "GAA!" After heading out on a tandem bicycle to a costume party, the two get a flat tire, resulting in an unplanned stop at a "spooky house," where the tables turn and Poppy gets a scare. Meanwhile, Petal is shrugging off her scaredy tendencies by making friends with a real-and helpful-ghost. Sequential panels and a good amount of physical comedy move the story forward, and Briant's subdued palette befits the unfolding nighttime shenanigans. For her part, Clough is able to inject the story with light doses of humor and suspense, even within the vocabulary limitations typical of the format. Ages 6-8. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Good friends Petal and Poppy alternate fears during Halloween night in their third series adventure. Costumed as a horned, red, furry monster, rhino Poppy sneaks up on unsuspecting Petal to scare her. The incident leaves elephant Petal spooked and resistant to wearing a scary costume like her buddy. Poppy coaxes her into joining in, and Petal decides to dress up like a butterfly. Sharing a bicycle while on their way to a Halloween party, Petal is easily frightened by the costumed characters they encounter. Brave Poppy reminds Petal, "Do not be a scaredy-cat. They are only costumes." A sudden crash leaves the pair stranded in front of a spooky house. Poppy is sure someone inside can help, but upon entering, Poppy's nerve begins to weaken. (Petal remains outside.) While Poppy wanders inside, becoming increasingly frightened, a real ghost floats out to greet Petal. Thinking it is just a costume, Petal asks the creature for help fixing their bike. Clough's use of repeated phrases will help build confidence in emergent readers, while Briant's paneled cartoon illustrations ably show the swift and slightly comic role reversal. All ends well as creatures in costumes along with the real ghost gather at the Halloween party. Although this husband and wife team put forth a good effort, the characters have only mild appeal when compared to the likes of Elephant and Piggie or Frog and Toad. (Graphic early reader. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
For young children, Halloween always stirs vivid imaginations with a bit of trepidation. Petal the elephant is a scaredy-cat and doesn't want to go to the costume party. She relents when Poppy the pooch encourages her to dress as a butterfly. They head out on the bicycle, only to have a blowout on the front tire. Petal sits shaking on the front porch of an old mansion while Poppy timidly goes inside seeking help. In a role reversal, Poppy gets spooked and runs out, only to find that a ghost has fixed the tire for Petal. To ease these new nerves and bring us full circle they switch costumes. Finally, at the party, both learn that there is nothing more to fear. In this Level 2 entry in the Green Light Readers series, simple text combines with short, but not stilted, sentences and colorful, humorous illustrations with just enough dark to retain the Halloween feel. Sure to be popular with the younger crowd, especially around October.--Petty, J. B. Copyright 2010 Booklist
