Beneath the Ghost Moon

With a nod to ``The Night Before Christmas,'' Yolen introduces a group of sleeping mice that dream not of sugarplums, but of a Halloween ``fancy-dress ball.'' The rodents never get the chance to dance in the moonlight, however, for a band of salamander-like creatures sneaks into the house and destroys the tiny mouse costumes. At first dejected, the mice decide to ``take back the night,'' put up a good fight and scare the ``whole crawly-creep crew.'' Children might cheer the action here long after older readers tire of the forced rhyme schemes. Molk's careful, cool-hued watercolors depict a well-appointed farm house and an endearing cast of gentle-eyed mice. An opening spread of the diminutive critters parading in trick-or-treat gear is not to be missed. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)