Who Said Boo?

by Nancy White Carlstrom, R.W. Alley (Illustrator)

A dozen playful poems follow the adventures of a group of children on Halloween, as they put on their costumes, visit a mysterious haunted house, and bob for apples at a carnival.

Genres: Halloween, Poetry, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1995

About the author

Nancy White Carlstrom has written more than 50 books for children, including the Jesse Bear series with illustrator Bruce Degan.

Born the daughter of steel mill worker William J. and Eva (Lawrence) White, Nancy White Carlstrom was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1948. She practiced writing poetry, enjoyed reading books like Little Women, and wanted to become a children’s book author at an early age. Carlstrom worked in the children’s department of her local library in Washington during her high school years. She graduated from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, majoring in Elementary Education and earning her B.A. in 1970, also studying at Harvard Extension School and Radcliffe from 1974 to 1976. In September of 1974, she married David R. Carlstrom, later a pilot and a marketing director at Fairbanks International Airport. They had two children—Jesse and Joshua.

She draws inspiration from her 18 years living in Alaska, volunteer experiences in Africa and Haiti, and raising her two sons.

Reviews

[Khloe Howie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustration were full of great detail and really captured the mood of the characters and Halloween season. I really enjoyed the poems How many witches?, Who’s Afraid of the big bad shadows?, and I’m a Monster!

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Some of the poems are better than others, but the illustrations are really fun and I think most kids would enjoy this book. Would be a decent classroom read-a-loud.

[Mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some rhyming and nice illustrations, but the poems were very long and not very intriguing.

[Elizabeth Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was some of my greatest writing inspiration when I was a kid, ultimately the reason I started writing poetry. A super cute collection!
(G rating)

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this to Little Bo Peep and found many of the poems awkward to read aloud. (I have found Nancy White Carlstrom's writing to be very hit or miss in general.) The illustrations were appropriately festive in mood, but I returned the book to Open Library without bothering to share it with Little Miss Muffet.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a poem book about Halloween events and things. Teacher can lead the students to create their own poem after reading the book. Many rhyming words are included in the poems and it can be also used as teaching the usage of punctuation marks.

[Brianna Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a wonderful anthology of poems about Halloween. Could be used to introduce a poetry unit, especially if it is being taught around the Halloween. The poems are very entertaining and there are examples of many different kinds of poems within the anthology.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

really bad poetry (in fairness, it's geared toward the very young) with marvelous illustrations

themes: Halloween, poetry

[Priscilla Schelling · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the poems for really young students. However, the pictures were extremely descriptive and they really scaffold the message of the story. Great Halloween fun for kindergarten or first grade...

[Savannah Shields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tons of very fun and easy Halloween poems! This book would be a great poetry theme book to incorporate the holiday of Halloween! Great for all elementary school students.

[Emma M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Terrible poetry, but the illustrations are fantastic. I also really like that the poems aren't ever too creepy.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

They are poems not a story (didn't notice that at the library) but the kids enjoyed it.