By Emily R. Zarevich, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Burlington is reaching that part of the year where everyone is wondering when the highly anticipated Spirit of Halloween store will pop up in an empty warehouse. The time of year to celebrate “Summerween,” the viral cultural phenomenon made popular by an episode of the hit Disney cartoon Gravity Falls, has only just faded into the distance. Halloween in summer is a widely appealing concept. Earlier this summer, a new collection of Halloween poems from Tundra Books hit the shelves to remind enthusiasts that the celebration of the holiday does not need to be restricted to October.
This new book is Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown, written by the talented Toronto-based children’s author Vikki VanSickle and illustrated by Hamilton-based newcomer Jennica Lounsbury, who has a background in animation. Both author and illustrator took inspiration from the classic Mother Goose tales to co-create a fresh reading experience for children with a family-friendly, ghostly twist. Aimed at readers ages four to eight, Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown is a whimsical play on lyrical language with a cast of fun, eerie characters.
The residents of Spookytown live up to their name. They are werewolves, vampires, ghouls, and other creepy creatures who roam the streets to explore and have fun. Their lives are full of activities and adventures, which means they’re also full of stories. And all good stories should be written down.
The town has a protector and archivist, Mother Boo, who is the oldest ghost in the land. Mother Boo’s job is to collect the stories of the residents of Spookytown and render them in rhymes for everyone to enjoy. There is so much going on in her town, and everyone is busy, busy, busy with something. In one story, a young boy with a fascination with snakes gets to share his knowledge of the slithery reptiles. In another story, woodland creatures of all shapes and sizes gather to feast on the jack-o’-lanterns that have been left out after a Halloween parade.
Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown offers learning opportunities for young children. The simple and clever rhymes, when read aloud, can help readers recognize sound patterns in words.
“Werewolves snack on pearl mushrooms. Hush, little baby, Mama’s home soon.”
“It’s not the witch who’s magic, but the kitty on her side. Without her purry, furry friend, she simply cannot ride.”
Witches in pointy hats give lessons about spelling, introducing readers to words such as “enchantments,” “ancient,” and “nuances.” Parents reading with their curious children can provide definitions. The “Countdown to Halloween” story also allows young readers to practice number recognition.
From Mother Boo, young readers will learn about essential themes such as the importance of community. The colourful characters of Spookytown get together and celebrate their lives, or sometimes afterlives, in groups, finding happiness through music, dance, making shared memories and connections. Trick-or-treaters out on Halloween night enjoy themselves because they know their neighbourhood is safe. Mother Boo, an elder, is the most respected member of the community, teaching young readers that an older person’s guidance and wisdom is invaluable.
Lounsbury’s fluid art style creates a distinctive array of characters that populate the pages and express movement and personality. Her ghosts in particular are playful and lively, swirling in and out of people’s homes and winding themselves around furniture in the story “Ghosts Go A-Spooking.” Her cartoony style has the familiarity of a colouring book, which should visually appeal to beginner readers who are transitioning to books with text.
Mother Boo: Poems from Spookytown is now available for purchase. Readers can visit the Tundra Books website for more information, including a “Creator Spotlight” with Vikki VanSickle, in which she discusses her other titles, such as Into the Goblin Market and The Lightning Circle.
