How to Build a Haunted House

Frank Tupta grew up in a haunted house in Cleveland, Ohio. His favorite holiday is Halloween. He currently lives in Peninsula, Ohio (a haunted town), surrounded by the Cuyahoga Valley National Park with his wife, children’s book author and illustrator Lindsay Ward; their children; and Sally, a rambunctious pit-bull/Lab mix. How to Build a Haunted House is his debut picture book. In addition to writing for children, he also works on www.critterlit.com, a website offering critiques and advice to up-and-coming authors and illustrators. Follow him on Twitter @Ftupta or at his website www.uptasomething.com.

“Humorously lively, energetic illustrations feature numerous busy, multicolored monsters and mounds of dirt; the palette highlights mostly dark shades (this is a nighttime enterprise, after all), but a full moon lights the proceedings well enough to illuminate the monsters’ comical, frantic expressions; a round yellow sun at the book’s conclusion brings the evening’s proceedings to a happy finish. Entertaining and enjoyable for building and critter lovers.” —Kirkus Reviews“This fun and friendly book will be a hit at Halloween storytimes or with monster-loving children who don’t necessarily go in for frights.” —Booklist“A suggested first purchase, this is a richly colorful and humorous fantasy, perfect for alert and detail-oriented young readers.” —School Library Journal