Luna and the Witch Throw a Halloween Party

PreS-Gr 2–Like her grandma in Puerto Rico, Luna wants to be a bruja—a real witch. She knows just the way to make it happen: by enlisting the help of Pheenie, a witch in the neighborhood. They make a deal. Luna will help Pheenie throw the best Halloween party and in return she will teach Luna how to be a witch. Pheenie is not a natural party planner, so Luna helps guide her to making better choices that will appeal to her guests. For example, instead of candied spiders for snacks, Luna suggests candy corn. Text and illustrations are engaging, and there are plenty of traditional Halloween elements in the story, such as Pheenie with golden magic rising from her left hand and cascading into a giant jack-o’-lantern that Luna is happily holding. Text complements the illustration saying, “Jack-o’-lanterns with toothy grins, devilish eyes, and warty chins, creepy lanterns now burn bright. Keep them burning through the night!” The party ends on a happy note. It is a blast for all, including the children, bats, witches, and goblins, and Pheenie is ready to deliver on her promise to Luna. This title introduces the concept of a bruja and may encourage readers to want to learn more.