The Spooky Express Texas

This Texas-themed tale is one of 78 regional Halloween books, all releasing simultaneously, with details slightly tweaked for each American or Canadian setting. Two trick-or-treaters, dressed as a pirate and a superhero, board the Spooky Express train, which rides through the sky on tracks of mist and is filled with ghosts, ghouls, and other creatures: “There were big trolls from Lubbock/ that towered in size,/ and aliens from Austin/ with bright, bulging eyes.” As the train travels past El Paso, Dallas, and San Antonio, landmarks flash in the train’s windows, and when the engineer’s pumpkin head goes flying and the train swerves out of control, the children pull off a daring rescue. Polish artist Piwowarski’s digital illustrations capture the adventure in a bright, splashy style, and though there are some less-than- elegant rhymes in the mix, this supernatural train trip ought to be a crowd-pleasing ride. Ages 4–10. (Aug.)