Little Pumpkin's Halloween (Little Holiday Books) - Hardcover

Algy Craig Hall earned a degree in Economics and Politics at Warwick University and, ten years later, received his MA in Children’s Book Illustration from Cambridge School of Art. When not illustrating, Algy works as a financial journalist for Investors Chronicle magazine. He lives in London.

“Little ones learn about Halloween traditions—costumes, tricks, and treats—in this un-scary board book. This entry in Hall's Little Holiday Books follows the same cast of racially diverse children wearing costumes fashioned from footie pajamas on a not-too-scary Halloween hunt for treats. Their costumes are not elaborate: hoods for Little Pumpkin and Little Franken, a cape for Little Bat, a hood and sheet for the child dressed as a ghost. Little Pumpkin starts out alone but quickly finds Little Franken behind the curtains. As each trick-or-treater is discovered, Little Pumpkin declares ‘Good trick.’ These toddlers act like actual toddlers, climbing the stairs on all fours and cheerfully tumbling over one another. The black kitten on each spread and treat bags decorated to match each child's costume are details that will help young readers focus . . . A cheerful addition to the holiday bookshelf that might even last longer than the Halloween candy.” —Kirkus

“Hall’s board book presents cheerful evidence that Halloween tricks and treats—and sights and sounds—aren’t just for big kids. Followed by a black kitten, Little Pumpkin, a broadly smiling toddler wearing a soft-shaped pumpkin hat and toting a tiny goody bag, moves through ‘the spooky house’ searching for treats. As the duo explores behind the ‘swishy, swooshy curtains,’ up the ‘creaky stairs,’ and under the ‘squeaky bed,’ Little Franken, Little Bat, and Little Ghost emerge to join the party. Together, the toddling trick-or-treaters summon the courage to find out ‘what is behind the spooky-wooky door.’ The answer, presented in a smiling skull bowl, garners a glad “Hooray, hooray!” from the diverse crew. Ample white background space on the sturdy pages keeps the proceedings age-appropriately bright.” —Publishers Weekly