By the Light of the Halloween Moon

A series of creatures, from a black cat to a witch, a ghoul to a ghost, each attempt to tickle or prick the tapping toe hanging down from a dock in this entertaining Halloween picture-book. As one after the other is foiled by the next creature, they eventually attract the attention of the toe-owner - a fiddle-playing girl - who informs them that the toe is HER's, thank you very much...

Originally published in 1993, and then reprinted in this 2009 edition, By the Light of the Halloween Moon uses a cumulative narrative - "A ghost! / A williwaw ghost / who trips the ghoul / Who swats at the bat / Who bumps the witch as she snatches the cat / When he springs through the air to catch the toe / that taps a tune in the dead of night" - that put show more me in mind of classic nursery rhymes like "This Is the House That Jack Built." The text here reads well, and the artwork is appropriately spooky, while also being humorous. Recommended to anyone looking for entertaining nursery-rhyme style picture-books for Halloween. show less

I liked it, and I'm not even a fan of Halloween. So I rounded up. In my best judgement, it's got exactly the right amounts of tension and creepiness, and the ending is perfect. I would have *loved* to read this to my kids, when they were anywhere from age 4 to 8. If I were expecting grandchildren, I'd save it. I will investigate for more by the author.

This is a cumulative rhyming story that begins with a child's pair of bare feet dangling peacefully over the side of a bridge in the silvery moonlight of a Halloween night. One by one, various creatures of the night reach forward to grab one of the little, unsuspecting toes, but each attempt, in turn, is botched by the next creature. Black cats, bats, witches, ghouls and other spooky folk take a crack at the toe and the suspense keeps building in a delightfully fun and entertaining way. The Halloween creatures are all so funny that this story really cannot be considered at all scary but the level of suspense takes it out of the realm of the cute and deftly places it in the realm of the spine-tingly! It's high spirited Halloween fun for show more one and all. show less

By the Light of the Halloween Moon is a fun, cumulative tale that will keep kids interested the whole time. Throughout this whole book a young girl is sitting on the edge of a pier with her toes hanging over the edge. As she sits, she is tapping out the tune of this Halloween and playing a violin (but this is unknown until the end). As she is minding her own business a cat spots her toes, then a witch, then a bungling bat, a ghoul.....as well as other strange creatures. Each on a mission to either pitch, bit, or grab her toe as she pays no mind. Who will get her toes first? read and find out! This story is not only cumulative but offers descriptive words as well. With each introduction, the author uses words to describe each new show more character making it easier for readers to make a mental image. For example, "a bunging bouncy breezy bat" and more. I would recommend this book to any that wants to get into the Halloween spirit ! show less

This story is a fun, repetitive, bouncy, rhythmic tale that is sure to make children laugh. I think it is a great way to help children conquer their fears of Halloween creatures by having the girl bite, swat, hit, and yell at the creatures, clearly demonstrating that their is nothing to be afraid of, even by the light of the Halloween moon.

This story is a great read aloud for Halloween! It is mildly scary but, oh, so silly and the girl who is the main character is very brave indeed. After all, she is making music in the dark!

The fun refrain for a large group is: "By the light, by the light, of the Halloween moon." I like to draw moon out like moooon.

Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes.

This cumulative Halloween poem is a treasure of rhythm, rhyme, and fun. Its luminous illustrations have a magic to match.