Ages 2^-5. On his first Halloween night, a little mouse outside by himself has a series of frights in this wonderfully rhythmic picture book. Each new sound or sight terrifies Mouse until its source is revealed: "Down on the ground, / Mouse heard something moving--/ Rustle! Rustle! Rustle! / `Eeek!' Mouse squeaked. / What could it be?/ [page turn] Tumbling leaves! / That's all. / Not so scary after all." The repetition of this pattern of words sets up a cadence that young children will find both pleasing and comforting. The illustrations, which appear to be acrylics on canvas, build up layers of dark, warm color lit with lighter shades and, occasionally, white highlights. The rounded shapes of the little mouse and his world add to the cozy feeling that underlies the light pretense of scariness. From the author and illustrator of Mouse's First Christmas (1999), this is a fine Halloween read-aloud for young children who like the idea of a scary book, but need plenty of reassurance along the way. Carolyn Phelan

A tiny mouse's gently scary investigation of typical Halloween encounters reveals calming answers to worrisome possibilities. " 'Eeek!' Mouse squeaked. What could it be?" repeat as easily remembered choral responses as Mouse questions each potentially scary noise. (Something's flitting! Then rustling! Flapping, dropping, sneaking, flickering, thumping!) The dark hues of a spooky night permeate Erdogan's full-bleed illustrations, in which alternate spreads set up fearful situations, only to deflate them into something that's "not so scary after all" with the flip of the page to the next spread. The juxtaposition of the tiny mouse against large, looming objects increases the sense of foreboding. Typographics like the circular display of the word "jack-o'-lantern" or the tumbling letters of "Falling apples" enliven the look of Mouse's second foray into the two-legged world by this author/illustrator team (Mouse's First Christmas, 1999). Plug in a narrator or two, a mouse, movements from creative dramatics, and those repeating refrains, and a read-aloud session for pre-schoolers could spark to life. The book will reassure timorous listeners in both individual and group settings about a meant-to-be-spooky holiday--and perhaps even provide by extension a means of lessening fearfulness in other "scary" situations they encounter. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

PreS-Inquisitive Mouse steps out again on a holiday eve. This time it's Halloween night. He hears something flying. "Flit! Flit! Flit! What could it be?" The bright, autumn-hued double-spread answers the question with shadows of bats and just enough black wings to suggest them, thus creating a guessing game for young children. Leaves rustle and tumble, scarecrows flap and wave, apples plop, and trick-or-treaters thump. At each eerie encounter, Mouse asks, "What could it be?" and a visual clue is incorporated into the spread. The answers are printed in shaped text on the following page with a refrain, "That's all. Not so scary after all." The brilliant Halloween tones and sounds of autumn create a chance for spooky language interaction and encourage participation. This author and illustrator make a superb team, and children who liked Mouse's First Christmas (S & S, 1999) will adore Mouse's First Halloween.- Karen Land, Greenport Public School, NY (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

When Mouse takes a walk one spooky night, he sees and hears creepy, rustling things. As he investigates, he discovers they are merely bats or leaves--not so scary after all. Then he hears a knocking and finds trick-or-treaters. The resolution to the story is shown in the appropriately dark, whimsical illustrations when Mouse returns home with a piece of candy corn. From HORN BOOK Spring 2001, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

And new to board book format is Lauren Thompson's Mouse's First Halloween, illus. by Buket Erdogan. To the refrain of "Eeek!"/ Mouse squeaked," Mouse finds reasonable explanations for the scary sounds he hears. (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved