Review: 10 Trick-or-Treaters: A Halloween Counting Book

By Janet Schulman; Illustrated by Linda Davick

Random House; 2005; 32 pages

Picture Book; Concept Book

Ages: 2-5

ISBN:978-0-3758-3225-3

A group of 10 trick-or-treaters count down as one by one they are scared away.

My Thoughts:

I did not like this book. As far as being a concept book, there are MUCH better counting up and counting down books available. (My personal favorite being Numbears byKathleen Hague.) I do not blame Linda Davick for this book's flaws. The illustrations are adorable, and well done. Rather I blame Schulman's text. It is well known that rhythm and rhyme help children learn and remember. (I still sing the ABC song sometimes as I am shelving books.) Schulman uses rhyme, but not well. As you attempt to read the story, the rhythm is off. There is no consistency which makes it hard since the reader naturally wants to fall into a sing song lilt. Perhaps, if the book were read silently it would not be a problem. However, this book is geared towards an age group of listeners, rather than independent readers.

Positively speaking, the illustrations are VERY well done. They are, in fact, the only positive thing about the book. The "monsters" that scare away the trick-or-treaters one by one are, on closer examination, merely people in masks and costumes. This is a good thing to point out to smaller children if they become afraid. In the end, if you REALLY need a counting book that is halloween themed...don't use this one. Pick up Countdown to Halloween by Pat Palmer!

The Thoughts of Others:
(Apparently I am not entirely alone in my distaste...)

Marilyn Cartout reviewed the book in 2005 for Children's Literature. She also felt the need to make a suggestion of a different title, citing that " a better example and one that can easily pair with this book is Ten Timid Ghosts by Jennifer O'Connell." She did not care for the illustrations either. She felt they looked computer generated and were uninteresting.

On the other hand, Marge Loch-Wouters loved the book when she reviewed it in 2005 for School Library Journal. She praised both Schulman's text and Davick's art. She summed it up as "a not-too-scary treat for the youngest Halloween fans."