Giulio Maestro

What streets do ghosts haunt?
Dead ends.
Why are vampires so serious?
They deal with grave matters
Why is a haunted house sad when it rains?
It's spirits are dampened.

These are but some of the jokes and riddles presented by author/illustrator Giulio Maestro in Halloween Howls: Riddles That Are a Scream, which contains fifty-eight such holiday treats for the humorously inclined. Each joke or riddle and its answer are presented on a single page, which also features a full-color show more illustration...

Having enjoyed a number of non-fiction picture books illustrated by Maestro for his wife, author Betsy Maestro, I picked up this little volume with some anticipation. I'm not always the best audience for jokes and riddles, but I love Halloween and appreciate Maestro's work. I was not disappointed, finding this collection amusing—not laugh-out-loud amusing, but entertaining enough. What made the experience more fun however, was the artwork, which was colorful, expressive, and full of Halloween hi-jinks. Recommended to young Halloween celebrants who enjoy jokes, riddles, and silly humor and wordplay. show less

What does a goblin shop for?
Grosseries.
Why did the witch's mail rattle?
It was a chain letter.
Why was the skeleton a good student?
It had an open mind.

This is but a sampling of the sixty jokes and riddles presented by author/illustrator Giulio Maestro in this follow-up to his initial Halloween Howls: Riddles That Are a Scream. This second collection continues the fun, with one joke or riddle on each page, accompanied by a full-color illustration...

As mentioned in my review of the earlier show more collection, I have read and enjoyed a number of non-fiction picture books illustrated by Maestro for his wife, author Betsy Maestro, and decided to seek out some of his own books. Prolific as an illustrator, his output as an author is dominated by riddle books, including this pair of Halloween titles. Like its predecessor, More Halloween Howls: Riddles That Come Back to Haunt You is an amusing collection—not hilarious, but full of silly humor and puns—and features the same kind of appealing artwork—colorful and humorous, with lots of Halloween ghouls, goblins and other beasties. Recommended to young Halloween lovers who enjoy this kind of fare—jokes, riddles, and silly humor and wordplay. show less

When Michael , a young boy is on the way home from school one day he is approached by a man selling plants. These plants are guaranteed to grow overnight and he is sold. When he gets home, he tells his parents about the plant and they are apprehensive. By the end of the night, the plant has been watered and now has two buds on its limbs. Apartment 4 is disturbed the next morning by an angry neighbor, the plant has overtaken their house with its roots! They soon see how big the plant has show more gotten and do not believe their eyes. Pretty soon, a different neighbor is at their door and complaining about their new intrusion... Branches! Each neighbor who was blessed or cursed with the new member has to learn a way to love what they now have. By the next day, the apartment complex is completely covered and Michael spots the man who sold him this plant. The man goes to Michael and asks if he would like to buy another plant.

This book is filled with great illustrations that bring the words to life. The story in itself was really cute and the pictures just add more too that. I think that this would be a great story to share with students if they wanted to study or look into gardening. I think that it helps them understand that you must maintain what you grow! show less

I was surprised at this funny book. Kids will get a kick out of the same spelling different meaning of words. The only way to know how the word is being used it its' context. The riddles are good too.