The Haunted Scavenger Hunt: A Spook-tacular Storybook

Patschke and Garrigue amusingly exploit the allure of don’t for kids in this picture book—and what better day to do so than on Halloween? Sammy, Jenny, Sara, and Pete succumb to temptation when they stumble upon a box labeled “DON’T LOOK AT IT! DON’T TOUCH IT! DON’T OPEN IT!” Ignoring the exhortation kicks off an adventure fraught with eerie atmosphere and further irresistible warnings (“So what did the friends do?” becomes the story’s refrain). The messages eventually lead the group into “a spooky old house” where, one by one, they vanish, leaving only Sara in front of an ominous cellar door... with a surprise on the other side. Digital illustrations playfully evoke classic horror elements—ominous uplighting of faces, big shadows, eerie mists—in this likably tense tale. Characters are portrayed with various abilities and skin tones. Ages 3–7. (July)