A Very Scary Jack-O-Lantern by Joanne Barkan

A Very Scary Jack-O-Lantern Reviews

• 
  Abigail

  When Eliott asks his Grandpa Bud how to carve a scary jack-o-lantern one Halloween season, his grandfather gives him a set of instructions that are full of frightening fun. Following a black cat out of town on a moonlit night, the seeker must confront and follow any number of scary creatures - skeletons, ghosts, bats - to the cabin of the snaggle-toothed witch, in a clearing in the woods. Here the seeker must snatch the large orange pumpkin she is holding, and make it back to town, where it can be carved into the desired jack-o-lantern...
  
  Having enjoyed author Joanne Barkan and illustrator Jody Wheeler's
  A Very Scary Witch Story, I decided to seek out this companion tale, and I am not sorry I did. It's a small paperback picture-book, featuring an engaging Halloween story full of spooky fun, and colorful, expressive illustrations which perfectly capture the chills and thrills of the midnight walk being described by Grandpa Bud. Like its witchy counterpart, it features elements that glow in the dark, if prepared first with a flashlight. Although not spectacular, all in all this was an entertaining little Halloween tale, and is one I would recommend to picture-book readers looking for scary fare.
• 
  Patricia

  Fun read with a flashlight!
• 
  Ginger Snaps

  I love the illustrations in this book. Spooky, but not scary. Glow in the dark adds to the fun.
• 
  Tasha

  I got this book at a book exchange when I was in the Second grade. I love Halloween and this book was pretty because it had sparkles on it. :P But aside from its cover this book is a very cute book and one that has become my favorites and I will read it to my two boys every Halloween.
• 
  Cindy

  Copyright 1991, this is a Scholastic book with glow in the dark pages. This is one of 4 glow in the dark books & it was a big favorite with my kids (& Me!).
  
  Grandpa Bud tells Eliott how to carve a scary jack o' lantern. The story is spooky, but not too spooky. Young elementary school age & below.
• 
  Rayjan Koehler

  I still love books like this even as an adult! lol 😆
  
  The glow-in-the-dark parts make it extra special. Not very spooky, but a fun Halloween book nonetheless. :)
  
  I love all of the extra little details added into the pictures. For example the house is number 13, and the photos in the beginning of the book seem to say to me that the witch might really be Elliot's grandmother in disguise.
• 
  gina

  This book genuinely spooks my 5 year old. We started reading it at Halloween when he was 4. It's put up the rest of the year but comes down for the Fall. I LOVE that it's right on the edge of his comfort zone. I'll be sad when he outgrows it and it no longer spooks him :) They don't make books like this anymore!!
• 
  Annabelle

  This was my favorite Halloween book as a child we read it multiple times a year. In fact the copy my mother has is missing the cover. Poor thing. My husband recently bought me our own copy for our kids and I was so excited. It's definitely used, but still has the cover. I had borrowed my mom's copy to read to my stepson, but really wanted a copy of our own. My stepson loved it by the way and I'm hoping our future baby boy will enjoy it just as much when he's old enough. The art is one of my favorites and the glow in the dark moments only add to the fun.
• 
  Ashley Whaley

  This book if the prefect book to read around halloween to elementary school aged children. I would also like to plan an activity where we would all carve of own "scary" jack O lantern. I think the book is great to keep children interested and engaged throughout the lesson.
• 
  Lisa

  About a boy asking his Grandpa how to carve a very scary jack o lantern. It involves following black cats and skeletons. Then getting the pumpkin from a witch.
• 
  Sidhe Prankster

  I loved this book as a child, and, if you want to know the truth, I still get it out of storage and read it around Halloween. Silly, I know, but fun nonetheless.