Only18 days left, and it's Halloween! Today's read brings in some monsterly fun and mixes it with the excitement of heading to camp. This could be a fun read, and that's why I want to take a peek. So, let's do that!
SPOOKY SCOUTS
by Kimberly Shrack
Margaret K McElderry
Picture Book
40 pages
ages 4 to 8
When a camping trip falls under the full moon, wolf girl Luna schemes to hide her transformation from her fellow Spooky Scouts in this sweet and playfully subversive debut picture book perfect for fans of I’m Not Scary and Hardly Haunted.
Tonight is the annual Spooky Scouts’ camping trip, and wolf pup Luna can’t contain her excitement. But when the forecast calls for a full moon, her delight turns to dread. Because Luna has a every full moon, she transforms into something…strange—a creature so beastly and bizarre it’s sure to give her whole troop the ick!
If she doesn’t want to be branded a weirdo, Luna must use all her scouting skills to stop the transformation before it starts. And hopefully in time for s’mores. Full of camping adventure and unexpected surprises, Luna’s efforts to hide lead to new discoveries about friendship, bravery, and the true Spooky Scout spirit.
Tonight is the annual Spooky Scouts’ camping trip, and wolf pup Luna can’t contain her excitement. But when the forecast calls for a full moon, her delight turns to dread. Because Luna has a every full moon, she transforms into something…strange—a creature so beastly and bizarre it’s sure to give her whole troop the ick!
If she doesn’t want to be branded a weirdo, Luna must use all her scouting skills to stop the transformation before it starts. And hopefully in time for s’mores. Full of camping adventure and unexpected surprises, Luna’s efforts to hide lead to new discoveries about friendship, bravery, and the true Spooky Scout spirit.
MY TIDBITS
It's off to camp but with a very monsterly twist...and one that surprises in a lunar way.
Luna is so excited! It's time for Spooky Scouts' camp, which means smores, playing outside, and more. Best of all, she'll get to spend time with her other, monsterly friends. After she arrives and is marching along with them, realization hits. It's the full moon that night, which means Luna's biggest secret will be exposed...a terrible secret. Since there's no way she can leave camp, she must figure out a way to keep her secret safe.
This is a lively book with bold illustrations and a variety of friendly monsters, all excited for camp. It comes across with a touch of chaos matching the excitement and atmosphere of those first days. Each monster carries personality and at times, there are even side comments they make, which are added in speech bubbles. While the tale rolls along letting readers sink into camp with Luna, soon Luna's panic takes over as she tries to come up with a solution. It's easy to sympathize with her...especially since her transformation is so awful looking (according to her). So, her situation grabs as well as the silly ways she wants to stop it. The illustrations let all sorts of small incidences and details pop in to add an extra level of fun. As said, at times it comes across chaotic, but it fits so well with this lively bunch.
This makes a nice read-aloud for groups as well as individual settings, and listeners will want to have a little time to soak in a few of the scenes a tiny bit to get the extra humor. Luna's secret adds a smile-worthy twist with a dash of originality to make it a lovely surprise. The messages swings around knowing that everyone has their 'quirks', and that's okay, which adds wholesomeness as well.
And here she is...
Kimberly Shrack is an author and illustrator based in the Pacific Northwest. Like Luna, she is a s’mores enthusiast. Unlike Luna, she has not yet earned her badge for Dragon Fire Safety. Spooky Scouts is her debut picture book. Visit her at KimberlyShrack.com.
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