Beware the Brindlebeast

On All Hallows Eve, Birdie's walk home from work turns eerie as she comes upon a pot of gold. Her mysterious treasure transforms itself into a barrel of apples and then into a pumpkin, which she proceeds to carve into a jack-o'-lantern. The next ferocious change would have lesser women unglued, but Birdie stands her ground and faces the hideous beast that will finally metamorphose into a welcome friend. Retelling an English tale, Riggio packs a wallop of suspense as well as some cinematic moments of high drama. Her dark oil paintings dazzle with their special-effects quality. Ages 3-6. (Sept.)