Minerva Louise on Halloween

August 31, 2009
Minerva, the lovably oblivious white chicken, returns to offer running commentary on events occurring on Halloween. Minerva happily spends time watching “the farmers” (really children dressed in their costumes) at play. Contentedly misinformed, Minerva reassures a jack-o'-lantern about two frolicking ghosts: “Oh, that? Don't worry. That's just the laundry.” As ever, the disconnect between Minerva's observations and Stoeke's cheery imagery should provoke plenty of audience response. Ages 4–8.

July 1, 2009
PreS-KGuileless Minerva Louise is back for another adventure. As always, everything she sees is interpreted from her point of view as a chicken. The children who are getting ready for Halloween are referred to as the farmers. When they place fake tombstones in the yard, she thinks theyre planting a rock garden. She thinks bat-filled cobwebs placed in the corner of the porch are new curtains. The skeleton hanging on the door holding a scythe is a farmer with a shovel, one who is too skinny to dig anything. But when the children start trick-or-treating, the chicken gets really excited. She thinks theyre bringing feed bags to the door and getting corn. She grabs an empty cupcake paper from the table, joins them at the door, and gets some candy corn just like the kids. The illustrations are crisp and clear with flat colors, outlined in black. Fans of Minerva Louise will love this title. "Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
Hen Minerva Louise has her own perspective (per usual) of Halloween on the farm. Seen through her eyes, the spider-web decorations become new curtains, a skeleton is a very skinny farmer, trick-or-treat baskets are feed buckets, and--yum, candy corn! Stoeke's unfussy drawings provide satisfying visual clarifications of Minerva Louise's silly misinterpretations.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)