Spooky Pookie

by Sandra Boynton

It’s Halloween! What will little Pookie decide to be this year? Pookie tries on costumes one by one, but somehow can’t find just the right thing. The resolution to Pookie’s dilemma will delight toddlers and their caregivers alike. Told and illustrated with Sandra Boynton’s celebrated charm and pizzazz, Spooky Pookie has all the makings of a beloved Halloween classic. Boo!

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Kids, Animals

18 pages, Board Book

First published July 28, 2015

About the author

Sandra Keith Boynton is an American humorist, songwriter, director, music producer, children's author, and illustrator. Boynton has written and illustrated over eighty-five books for children and seven general audience books, as well as over four thousand greeting cards, and seven music albums. She has also designed calendars, wallpaper, bedding, stationery, paper goods, clothing, jewelry, and plush toys for various companies.

Reviews

[Caitlyn G · Rating 3 out of 5]

pookie should've been the banana

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember when choosing your Hallowween costume was such a big deal? This book will take you back to that time and make you smile.

[Tayte Cumberland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute very silly love little pookie

[Naomi Saucke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, relatable, scary. Leaves nothing behind!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little pig tries on costume after costume until he finds just the right Halloween disguise.

GREAT Halloween-themed read aloud for toddlers and PreK. I think this would make a nice flannelboard story too if you created a paper doll-like pig character and made a variety of costumes for him to try on.

[Ruth Ann Lingwall · Rating 3 out of 5]

We love Sandra Boynton’s board books. But we’ve noticed some of her books are great and others just so-so. This is one is tolerable. The long list of costume possibilities is slightly tedious but the pictures are sweet. It is similar to Spot’s Halloween. Since we really love Night Night, Little Pookie, this book naturally had a little more charm for both my son and I.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed seeing pookie look at potential halloween costumes however....












pookie should have gone with the banana costume

[Lacy | literary_lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love our Sandra Boynton books! This was a cute Pookie book that both of my kids enjoyed. It would be a great addition to your library if you are a fan of the Pookie books or Sandra Boynton, especially around Halloween.

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter loves reading this book (and by reading I mean picking up & looking at the pictures). It’s the perfect size for her little hands.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an indecisive little pig

[Madalino Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starting spooky season off a little early (the right way!) 😎

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO cute!

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't heard my youngest laugh this hard with a book before - her reaction was priceless and her laughter was infectious. The illustrations and silly words make this a great Halloween read aloud for toddlers.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't say enough on how much I love Sandra Boynton books. This is super spookie pookie-ish! Nice rhyming text and love the colors in the illustrations.

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute.

[Nessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ha ha I loved it!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great! Alistair really liked this one. He would smile when we would even just say the title. A fun book about choosing a costume for Halloween with fun rhymes.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra Boyton does it again with this rollicking rhyme about little "Pookie" and his quest to find the perfect Halloween costume. The illustrations great also.

[Lynn Plourde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sandra Boynton cracks me up--she does simple brilliantly! What will the pig wear for a costume for Halloween? A dragon? A banana? You'll have to read to find out . . . get ready to giggle!

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute Halloween book

[nukie19 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter, a big Pookie fan, loved this new addition from Boynton. Perfect for the Halloween season, or for any kids who enjoy dressing up.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute and fun! I can't wait until baby is old enough to really get into this one!

[Mama Bibliosoph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm sad that I didn't have this book when my son Luke was struggling with wearing costumes and trick-or-treating when he was 3. It's a perfect social story for all of the above.

Pookie is an adorable little pig, who your child may already know from many other classic Boynton books (like "What's Wrong, Little Pookie?"). Pookie's mother explains that tonight is Halloween:

Tonight when it's dark
we will walk down the street.
We will visit our friends.
You can say, "Trick or Treat!"

Pookie's mom tells her son to choose a costume, but he has sensory issues and is choosy. Kids with a variety of special needs can easily relate to many of the strong feelings Pookie has about these choices. Finally, he finally settles on what he wants to be: a ghost.
---

I review books from the perspective of a parent of two children with autism. This review is part of a list of Halloween theme books that can be found on my blog: https://www.lineupthebooks.com/hallow...

[Kaytie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ishmael. George Milton. Frodo Baggins. All heroes of their respective works of literature. And now, and new hero for these dark, dark times: Pookie.

As the tale unfolds, the reader - unsuspecting as she is - encounters a traditional literary trope: a confused young character. Faced with a choice that many are faced with in their times, Pookie must decide who - or what - to be for Halloween.

Questions abound: but the real question the reader must answer is: "What will it take for you to come of age?"

Yes: this is a coming of age story in which the protagonist - who may initially seem static - is round (and not just because she is a pig). This dynamic story follows the challenges - and eventual successes - of this life-altering choice. At the end, the reader must confront themselves with the age-old question: who am I, really? In other words: "Which Pookie am I?" Because, isn't it true that we're all a little Pookie?

[Mavis’s Dad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some people take Halloween too seriously and dwell on costumes a year in advance instead of just going with the flow. That would be Pookie. He clearly cannot make up his mind. What will he settle on?

Moral: Put a lot of thought and energy into picking out your costume.

Length: Short enough that you’ll have plenty of time to make it to Spirit Halloween to put together your own outfit.

Favorite Line: “A clown could be funny.”

Overall Impression: Most of Pookie’s outfits are not spooky… they’re cute and charming. In fact, even the ghost outfit he settles on is less scary than the typical Sandra Boynton book. However, this one is not as bad as many of her other holiday tales. Pookie is not our favorite character, but this book isn’t a bad choice for the Spooky Season.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great children's book for kindergarteners. Spooky is a very cute and relatable character. The story is short. There's many fun costume changes that draw kids into looking at every page. It shows students many describing words. Children can relate to this because it shows them how to look into their feelings. Sometimes kids will say they just don't like something. Pookie says what exactly he doesn't like about the costume and why it isn't for him. In the end he finds his perfect costume. It also gets everyone in a Halloween mood. Great addition to my library and a must buy to anyone else!

[Happy LittleReaders · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s Halloween, and Pookie is going to be trick or treating. There’s just one issue. He needs to find the perfect costume. However, none of them fit. The bear is too hot, the dragon is too itchy, and the banana is too silly. There’s just one more costume, a ghost. Pookie puts it on. Eek! Is that a ghost? No! It’s a Spooky Pookie!
Reason for recommendation: This book is a simple but fun book about not knowing what to be for Halloween.

[Shannon]

We've got quite a few Sandra Boynton books, including all of the Pookie books. I like her, but don't love her. They are fun, easy reads and the art is nice to look at if not extraordinary. I just don't find them particularly emotional or engaging or even all that clever. I do like Pookie best of her work. He's a sweet little kid (and an only child so far! We love to see it!) and this one is one of the best of his stories.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rhyming board book about the adorable Pookie looking for the just right Halloween costume. Little ones will identity with the search and the sentiments: "It's itchy." "It's hot." A fun first Halloween book for babies and toddlers.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful board book about Pookie's search for the perfect halloween costume all while introducing the conventions of trick or treating to a young reader. Cute and brief.