Let's Get Spooky

Stepanka Sekaninova used to work as a TV reporter and in the production of children’s programs. Now she is a writer and an editor-in-chief, living in the Czech Republic.Originally from eastern Slovakia, Lukas Figel studied animated production at the Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava. His master’s film, selFish, won the jury prize at the PAFF festival and the distribution award at Fest Anca. He primarily focuses on commercial animation, short films, and the series Drobci, and has published comics in Pomimo and AARGH! In the evenings, he works on free illustration. He lives in Trebisov.

"Tour a series of terrifying settings in this Czech import. Six sites await. First up, Dracula’s Castle, inhabited by fanged vampires with an unslakable thirst for blood. Then it’s on to a ghastly graveyard, a frightening forest filled with mysterious lights and sinister sounds, and a narrow, dark street where a headless knight, a ghostly woman, and ruthless robbers all lurk. Next up: an abandoned house where terrible ghosts loom and, finally, a wicked warlock’s tower—be careful, lest you be turned into a frog or ant! Two spreads are devoted to each setting; brief background or historical descriptions of each spooky scene fill one spread, while the other features an intricately detailed seek-and-find challenge. Against shadowy backgrounds and tortured Gothic architecture, incredibly elaborate scenes of mystery and mayhem unfold. Text presented in spidery scripts challenges readers to count all the candles or locate hard-to-locate items. Spectral servants, bizarre inhabitants, decayed furnishings, and odd doings—like a raccoon in the bath or a sleepwalker on the roof—abound. Corners hold skulls, cobwebs, cauldrons, dragons, and more—enough to keep determined readers occupied for hours. The fantastically somber and eerie illustrations spirit this book into the higher realms of delicious horror. Characters vary in skin tone. A spellbinding excursion into scary, sometimes amusing, and enthrallingly illustrated settings. (Picture book. 7-10)" —Kirkus Reviews"Gr 2-4–In the tradition of “Where’s Waldo?” and similar seek-and-find books, readers are invited to visit six spooky places. Delving briefly into the psychology of why people enjoy being scared and the relief then found in safety, the conversational narrator next introduces each location. For each one, an initial spread notes some related spooky factoids. Following is an intricately detailed, full-bleed spread presenting a wealth of visual fun for exploration. The first three locations, Dracula’s Castle, a graveyard, and a haunted forest, start out less scary because they are filled with mostly fantasy figures, such as skeletons DJing a vampire party or in sombreros for Día de los Muertos. Moving into dark streets, an abandoned house, and a warlock’s tower becomes somewhat more frightening because more humans are in peril. Although there are menacing details, like a burglar with a knife on dark streets or the warlock’s caged captives, there is also humor in the details, such as one or more active raccoons in every large illustration. The narrator checks in before moving on, giving anxious readers the opportunity to choose a different book. There is a short list of items to look for, but no answers are provided. VERDICT Highly detailed spooky scenes will hold readers’ attentions and encourage them to pore over the details." —Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, School Library Journal"A good choice for younger browsers eager for the pleasure of a scare." —Booklist"This would work perfect for a budding horror fan or for a library needing some more Halloween books. It operates with some short facts, as well as is a seek-and-find book. Simple enough for younger children to delight in it as well as their older siblings." —Sara Reiser, Librarian