Monsters Growling in the Background

August 22, 2022
A vibe-setting anecdote about a Halloween night that terrifies costumed candy-seekers opens this immersive assortment of poems, “some as old as a rotting corpse in a grave, others as new as a baby goblin.” The grouping intersperses works by contemporary authors such as Kenn Nesbit (“Halloween Party”) with those of classic poets including Walter de la Mare (“Some One”) and Edna St. Vincent Millay (“The Little Ghost”). Accompanying the verses are bold-hued, poster-style illustrations by Ontiveros, which employ atmospheric elements (a graveyard, a haunted house) in thick outline alongside individuals portrayed with fancifully hued skin tones. Though the poems’ creators are limited to white-presenting American and English writers, appealing visuals and truly spine-tingling stanzas lend themselves to a seasonally pleasing read. Ages 8–14.