Haunted Party

One “very busy” ghostly host wearing a bow tie prepares for a party in this fun counting book. When the raucous party guests arrive, they include “3 gruesome goblins, gross and green,” “4 wild werewolves, very hairy” and “8 wretched witches, riding on brooms.” But the most fearsome of all are “10 cute children, sunny and sweet... Politely chanting, 'Trick or Treat!' ” who scare away the various monsters. The guests' outrageous antics and the more-marshmallow-than-menacing host (though it does get one final scare in) make it a good pick for the Halloween-hesitant. Ages 3–6. (July)