Halloween A B C

Award-winner Merriam slips on a Gothic cloak and mask to titillate and tease with 26 varied Halloween poems, highlighting all letters of the alphabet, that playfully and ironically address readers. The book offers ""guises, disguises, all kinds of surprises'' in fresh, original creations. In prominently musical and rhythmic verse, the versatile poet invites kids to wrinkle their noses, squeeze crow's feet into the corners of their eyes and smile knowingly. Illustrator Smith is a perfect accomplice with his wickedly eerie paintings of squat goblins and yellow-eyed witches, tattered umbrellas and other bedeviled images. Ages 5-up. (August)