4 out of 4 stars
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Halloween At Luke’s by Priya Pasumarthy is a delightful tale that takes place on Halloween. Every year at this time, the Luke family decorate their home on Arrow Street with pumpkins, skeletons, and spooky witches. This year the theme is, “Togetherness is Happiness!” Will this Halloween turn out to be as great as they hope? Will they get lots of guests and trick-or-treaters? You have to read this book to find out!
The vivid cover of this book is beautiful and paints a classic picture of Halloween for prospective readers. The full moon shines brightly against a black background, adding depth and mystery. The images bring to mind the sounds and smell of Halloween Night.
I loved that this book is dedicated to all the children around the world. It welcomes children to the book and sets a mood of expectation that is sure to please readers. I thought it was great that this story begins at a house on Arrow Street, but the ultimate destination is Hemway Street where the Halloween festivities will begin after dusk. It adds elements of suspense and expectation that suit the overall theme.
For such a short story, the character development is excellent. The conversations between Tom and Lyda showed their happiness and excitement about being together with friends. It was easy to get caught up in the spirit of the holiday.
The digital-art illustrations enhance the story and add a glow to the holiday feel of the book. The house and yard, decorated for Halloween, give off the perfect mix of mystique and spooky fun that kids love. I did notice that the sign on the door of the Luke’s house had a typed quality. It made it seem like it did not belong with the rest of the artwork in the illustration. I felt that there was room for improvement in that small detail.
I have to admit that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. The decorations, trick-or-treating, and games make that evening one of the best of the year. Children everywhere look forward to the fun in store for them when the first leaves of Autumn begin to fall. That said, what I liked most about this book is the overall message that togetherness is happiness. I feel it will resonate with kids, and teach a valuable lesson about friendship.
The story is told in a writing style that uses repetition. As each character comes to the house and knocks on the door, the same words and phrases are used. This method is excellent for teaching very young children to read, and that unique quality of this book makes it a useful teaching aid.
I think this book will appeal the most to kids between the ages of two and seven, but older children will be able to enjoy it as well. I recommend this book to children nearing the age of pre-school. It would also be useful for elementary and pre-school teachers to use as an aid in the classroom. With its simplicity, colorful illustrations, and happy theme, it can’t fail to add joy and learning to a child’s life!
It is evident that this author put a lot of thought into this work, and it seems professionally edited. Although I did find errors, most of them were minor and did not affect the flow of the book. I found it to be a wonderful beginner’s book for young readers. For these reasons, I am rating it with 4 out of 4 stars! If you are looking for a story suited to children of a higher reading level, this may not be the book for you.
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Halloween At Lukes
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