Vera’s Halloween
by Vera Rosenberry
A story of Halloween, yes, but more globally (and importantly) one of getting lost and of neighborly kindness – with a serene ending that just nails it.
What makes Vera’s Halloween work so well is the lack of emotion in the writing. That may sound odd, but for such a sensitive topic (getting lost), inserting the language of fear into Vera’s character could negatively impact some in the pre-reader audience. You can feel that Vera’s scared once she gets separated from her trick-or-treating family, even without the author saying so. Vera’s Halloween has a comforting, idealistic climax, which is totally fine, because it’s done so well. You may be surprised by the lack of an ‘a-ha’ moment or lesson learned by Vera here. Instead, the ending gives us a youthful, likely exhausted protagonist reflecting quietly. Any good parent knows the time for lessons would come later.
Rosenberry’s clever watercolor illustrations are eye-catching and aid the story well.
Because the narrative itself isn’t frightening in the least, it’s appropriate (and maybe even helpful) for kids under the suggested K-2nd grade age range. In Vera’s Halloween, children will see grace in the face of terrible adversity – a position that they may someday find themselves in, in or out of a costume.
*The Mouse and I checked out Vera’s Halloween from the library, so clearly no arm-twisting took place in the review process.
