Thompson, Jill. 1999. Scary Godmother. Dover, NJ: Sirius Entertainment.
Hannah Marie is so excited to go trick-or-treating with the big kids; she has complete faith in her cousin, Jimmy, and the flashlight her father gives her to ward away the monsters. When Jimmy tricks her, though, Hannah confronts all of the creatures that go bump in the night, and gets back at her cousin with the help of her Scary Godmother.
Jill Thompson’s charming story and sweet gothic illustrations make for a fun reading experience. What makes it even better, however, is that there is no age limit on this tale; children, teens, and even adults are likely to find something to enjoy here. Halloween, while fun, can be scary, too, and this story takes a little bit of the bite out of it, which makes Scary Godmother perfect for a themed story hour or to read traditionally on October 31st.
Scary Godmother is a wonderful mix of picture book and graphic novel, and because of the blend of straight narrative with comic book panels, it serves a very nice introduction to a new format for younger readers. Highly recommended.
