Grandy Thaxter's Helper

Mr. Death comes by to ask Grandy if she is ready for him to "carry her away" but she says she's not finished with her work yet. If he will lend her a hand she can leave sooner. With all the children she has to care for and the all the intense chores necessary to keep house in the pre-Victorian era she as too much to do to leave. This would be an excellent book to read aloud to middle grade students or older for Dia de Muerte (Mexican Day of the Dead) or Halloween as it would make a great creative writing project. Students could predict the ending or write another one. It may be a bit too scary for some children but others will delight in the creepiness of the death theme in this upbeat picture book. ( )

Among other things, I like the purple cover. ( )