Anita Riggio

Living alone in a tiny cottage outside of her small English village, Birdie worked as a cleaner for the housewives in the hamlet. The villagers always insisted that she get home before dark, lest she fall victim to the Brindlebeast, a monster said to haunt the neighborhood. One Halloween evening, on her way home, Birdie found a pot of gold in the roadway, and after stopping to look at it (quite naturally), she began to drag it home. Soon enough it turned into a barrel of apples, and then a show more plump pumpkin. Accepting each change philosophically, Birdie eventually arrived home, where she carved the pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern. When this Halloween decoration was transformed again, this time into the dreaded Brindlebeast, Birdie was not at all impressed...

I had never heard of author/artist Anita Riggio before I picked Beware the Brindlebeast up off my public library's Halloween display this last weekend, but I am glad to have discovered her work. I found her narrative here immensely engaging, and her artwork appealing. This is actually a somewhat revised version of a traditional English folktale from Northumberland, originally known as The Hedley Kow, and contained in Joseph Jacobs' 1904 collection, More English Fairy Tales. I don't think I have encountered this tale before (I have not read the Jacobs), so I cannot comment on the changes made by Riggio. That being said, I enjoyed her telling of the tale, with its simple, goodhearted, no-nonsense heroine, and her matter-of-fact approach to her unusual visitor. I also appreciated the vividly appealing artwork, particularly the depiction of the Brindlebeast in his monstrous form. Recommended to young folklore enthusiasts, and to picture-book readers looking for somewhat unusual Halloween stories. show less

The genre of this book is historical fiction. The story follows a white deaf boy and his mother who are painting eggs to sell at the general store in town. When a slave catcher bursts into their home and accuses them of hiding slaves, Luke, the boy, must find a way to contact the African-American girl who is waiting for a message from them. Instead of directly telling her, Luke finds a clever way to get the message across without the slave catcher finding out. This book would be appropriate show more for use in a 3rd-5th grade classroom. show less

I gave this book a 3-star rating because there are reasons I like this book, along with reasons I dislike this book. "Wake Up, William" is about a child, William who tricked his brother and sister into thinking he is asleep while he is just standing there with his eyes closed. I like this book because the pictures tell a very clear and funny story. William's brother and sister try to wake up by doing a series of ridiculous things such as putting ice cubes down his shirt or throwing their cat show more in the air. The pictures are entertaining and will catch the readers attention. I also like this book because the story line is shown through the pictures as well as the words. You can tell where the climax of the story is because of how outrageous the pictures are becoming, but also because the word "WILLIAM" is in all capital letters. I dislike this book because of the lack of variety in the vocabulary used. There is one sentence in the entire book, and it is "William won't wake up". I would say the central idea of this book is to have fun and not to take life too seriously. After William's brother and sister found out he was faking being asleep, they were angry with him. The on the next page they all decided to trick their father. show less

Luke is deaf, and together him and his mom are working to help run away slaves escape to freedom. Luke and his mom make kaleidoscope type sugar shells for a living. Both are in constant fear because of the cruelties that the slave hunters are committing such as burning down barns. They were scheduled to go into town that day and pass on information about the new safe place. Just then, a slave hunter knocks on the door and barges in. Luke's mom signs the conversation so that he could show more understand what is happening. The slave hunter is brutal and angry and limits the moms ability to sign. Finally, the man agrees to take only Luke into town to sell their goods. Luke reassures his mom that he will pass on the message. At the general store, Luke spots the girl with the blue shawl, who he is supposed to tell the message too. With a crowd of people and the slave hunter watching, the young boy paints a picture of the safe space, the Price's barn, and then awes the crowd and the man with his work. He then places the egg in the young girls hand and prods her to look into the light. She recognizes the sign. Luke had done what he needed to do. He had courage, and faced his fears, and made a difference in the lives of people who matter. (Historical Fiction) show less