cover image Scarum Fair

Scarum Fair

Jessica Swaim, illus. by Carol Ashley, Boyds Mills/Wordsong, $17.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-59078-590-4

A little bit silly, a little bit sinister, Swaim's poems introduce different denizens and attractions at the playfully twisted Scarum Fair. There's devil's food cake to eat, shrouds for sale, and a werewolf den to visit—"Like our friendly canine cousins,/ we're a cute and cuddly bunch./ Just think of us as puppies,/ and we'll think of you as... lunch." Ghoulish images of eyeless fanged creatures of every sort make this a punchy treat for fans of the macabre. Ages 9–11. (Oct.)