A Creepy Countdown-Charlotte Huck September 30, 2007
A Creepy Countdown by Charlotte Huck is a counting and a countdown book-this is good. It’s a rhyming book- what kid could not love that. But, most of all, it’s a book with marvelous illustrations and this is great. Students love counting the creepy, ever so Halloween-y, creatures: “One tall scarecrow standing on a hill. Two lumpy toads sitting very still.” Until “Ten tiny mice, feeling very brave squeaked…” and the countdown begins until, again, we have “One tall scarecrow stood all alone.” Jos. A Smith is quite the illustrator. His scratchboard technique is perfect for the scary creatures. I read the story to all ages in the library-some for the counting and all for the rhyming and art. Some of the students listening to the story and loving the illustrations want to immediately try the scratchboard effect-elementary school-style, of course. I’ve seen some pretty impressive attempts . The book’s illustrations are done in black and white with effectively placed watercolor details. A Creepy Countdown is a book well worth reading and admired.
A Creepy Countdown
Written by Charlotte Huck
Illustrated by Jos. A. Smith
Pre K-Grade 2
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