Princess Posey and the Monster Stew

August 1, 2012

Gr 1-2-Six-year-old Posey is nervously awaiting Halloween. She's been warned that the flashlight she carried last year is for babies, and her teacher has informed the students that they will be making and eating a "monster stew" in the classroom. When the child puts on the tutu she keeps safely in her bedroom, she transforms herself into Princess Posey and her fears subside. There is some teasing among the kids in Posey's first-grade classroom, but most of the interactions are sweet. Adults, such as Posey's grandfather, who happily creates a princess hat for her Halloween costume, are depicted as supportive and caring. While the simple text and sketchy illustrations are inviting to young readers, the prose is inconsistent. Conventionally structured sentences are juxtaposed with those taking a page out of the Junie B. Jones book of grammar. For example, "Halloween was the funnest time of the year." The book does a good job bridging the easy reader and chapter book divide. While Posey is not as compelling a character as Sophie, Clementine, and Amber Brown, readers will find her fears about Halloween and excitement about her costume and trick-or-treating relatable. Lively illustrations appear throughout.-Joanna Sondheim, Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School, New York City

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.