marybatson's Full Review: Alyssa Satin Capucilli - Happy Halloween, Biscuit!
Here’s a shocker… I actually own a Halloween book that I loathe. I purchased Happy Halloween, Biscuit! in a weak moment before I knew how many excellent choices there are for little pumpkin’s wanting to join the holiday fun. First off, I’m not a Biscuit fan. For those who are, I apologize in advance, as this review might offend. Kidding aside, I will warn readers that this popular character is only for the sentimental types who adore sugary sweet stories. ICK! That’s not for me, and neither is this book.
Biscuit is mischievous. He’s not a bad dog, but he’s curious. He seems to put his nose where it doesn’t belong, and I’m not talking about people’s crotches for those who were wondering. His owner, “little girl” takes him to the pumpkin patch to select a pumpkin, where he dismantles the scarecrow. After carving her pumpkin, “little girl” finds the pup playing in a basket of fresh vegetables. When dressing for trick-or-treating, the puppy somehow slips into one of his owner’s sweaters, and scares the cat. The tale ends when “little girl” finds Biscuit bundled up on the bedroom floor, fast a sleep in her Halloween costume.
The story isn't awful, however, the writing rubs me the wrong way. First off, the author, Alyssa Satin Capucilli, doesn’t name the owner of this canine, she’s only known as “little girl.” What’s that all about? Naming the child might compete with the puppy’s antics? Doesn’t the author want readers to identify with the characters? Additionally, Biscuit isn’t a talking dog like other popular characters, he just barks, “Woof, woof!” I counted sixteen “Woof's’s” and one “Bow Wow” in this short, 18-page book. That’s a lot of woofing to read aloud.
“How do you like my Halloween costume, Biscuit?
Woof! [lift the flap]
Oh, Biscuit!
You found your own Halloween costume!
Woof, Woof!”
My son liked this book when he was two-years old. It wasn’t a favorite by any stretch, and fortunately, I don’t recall reading it much. Now that he's five, he’s discarded it as a baby book, even though he has a shelf full of board books. The recommended age for the book is 2 to 6, although I’d say 2 to 4 is more accurate.
This was a bad impulse purchase, which as it happens, was a good lesson for this first-time mom. I was looking through the children’s section of T.J. Maxx when I came across Happy Halloween, Biscuit!, and somehow it found its way in my cart. I scanned it to make sure the pictures weren’t scary, but I didn’t read it from cover to cover. My son was only 6-months old at the time, so I wasn’t looking for literature per se, just something sweet, and simple. Well, I got it tenfold.
In addition, I don’t like Halloween books that show children trick-or-treating alone. I know this is nitpicking, but I don’t want my child getting the idea that wandering the streets alone at night is a safe thing to do. Pat Schories watercolor illustrations are just above satisfactory. They convey the story with light humor, and color, but they’re basic. Half of the backgrounds are plain white, and the scenes that do have colorful backgrounds are minimal. For instance, in the trick-or-treating scene when “little girl” is running along in her princess dress, the grass is a basic watercolor wash with a couple dozen sprigs of grass, and the stars in the sky are just dots.
On the plus side, this is a lift-the-flap book, and little ones enjoy the hide-and-seek qualities these kinds of books offer. Another positive thing about this book, is that the pages are very sturdy. They are a thick cardstock that will hold up to use, unlike a standard paperback book.
As endearing as some may find these characters to be, this story annoys me. Reading all the, “Woof’s” gets old after the first sitting, and the story is just too sappy for me. I learned my lesson, never purchase a children’s book without first reading it all the way through. If you’re considering Halloween books for the very young, 0 to 3, I recommend DK’s, My First Halloween, Chuck Murphy’s, Razzle Dazzle Halloween, and DK’s, Touch and Feel Halloween. They are all board books that little goblins can handle with ease, and the content is simple, and short for young listeners. Happy Halloween!
ISBN: 0-694-01220-3
Harper Festival [A division of Harper Collins Publishing] 1999
This is another entry into msmorvay's 4th Annual Resurrecting the Oldies Book Write Off.
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