By GLENN TOLLE
It’s now less than a hundred days till Halloween, so I figured that – for this edition of FRIGHTS FOR TYKES – I would cover my first “creepy” Halloween book. The book is BAT CHILD’S HAUNTED HOUSE, written and illustrated by Mercer Mayer and published by RANDOM HOUSE BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS in 1995.
The short, 15-page book tells the story of Malcom (one of the many “Critters” in the Little Critter series) who dares Bat Child to live in a haunted house. Bat Child decides to show Malcom he is indeed brave but things don’t go according to plan, as Malcom is intent on scaring him.
My mom bought BAT CHILD’S HAUNTED HOUSE for my first Halloween and I credit it for introducing me to the concept of a haunted house; the rest, as they say, is history. While more cute than creepy, and more silly than scary, it remains a perfect little picture book for one to six year olds, sure to entertain for the brief few minutes that it takes to read.
BAT CHILD’S HAUNTED HOUSE can be bought for $4.99, plus free shipping, “Used” in “Good” condition.
If your child has yet to be introduced to the magic that is Mercer Mayer, then I recommend you buy this book and read it while the jack-o’-lanterns are grinning.
