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Eek! Halloween!
Boynton celebrates Halloween!
A new addition to the Boynton on Board series, with over 21 million copies sold, Eek! Halloween! is all treat and no tricks, a journey with Boynton and her nutty characters through the tradition of Halloween.
It starts with an uh-oh—the chickens are nervous! Strange things are happening. One chicken saw a pumpkin with flickering eyes, another spied a mouse of enormous size. They all saw a wizard and a witch, and a spooky robot. “WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? / Relax, silly chickens! It’s HALLOWEEN!”
A new addition to the Boynton on Board series, with over 21 million copies sold, Eek! Halloween! is all treat and no tricks, a journey with Boynton and her nutty characters through the tradition of Halloween.
It starts with an uh-oh—the chickens are nervous! Strange things are happening. One chicken saw a pumpkin with flickering eyes, another spied a mouse of enormous size. They all saw a wizard and a witch, and a spooky robot. “WHAT’S GOING ON HERE? WHAT DOES IT MEAN? / Relax, silly chickens! It’s HALLOWEEN!”
24 pages, Board Book
First published August 23, 2016
3 people are currently reading
318 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Boynton
169 books1,132 followersSandra 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
October 19, 2016
Perfect little Halloween reader for your little trick-or-treaters. Find out what the chickens are afraid of, unless you're chicken too!
November 20, 2016
Sandra Boynton is the queen of board books for young children!! I enjoyed reading this book, and couldn't wait to share it with my niece and nephew.
The words lend themselves to read-aloud-fun!! The giggles and smiles from my niece and nephew confirmed what I already knew - young kids and kids-at-heart will love this book and others by Sandra Boynton.
Highly recommended!
The words lend themselves to read-aloud-fun!! The giggles and smiles from my niece and nephew confirmed what I already knew - young kids and kids-at-heart will love this book and others by Sandra Boynton.
Highly recommended!
November 3, 2024
I have waited all my life for a board book that uses the word "intone." Plus: skittish chickens, great rhymes, and a thoroughly effective seasonal theme.
Read
October 2, 2025I had to read a Halloween book for the first day of October! The chickens were very silly and I liked looking at the picture of them all lined up
September 20, 2022
Especially fun when Kellen “hides his eyes” too
November 8, 2018
Read to my nephew on a chilly fall afternoon. Discovered when my now 16 year old son was around two, Sandra Boynton is still one of my all-time favorite artists & authors.
October 23, 2024
Super funny book. Boyton's chickens are my favorite, so I'm always amused at their presence. Here they take center stage.
April 3, 2025
Quick and easy, but not much to think about here.
September 7, 2025
Who can blame the chickens for being nervous!
October 11, 2023
We loved this book! The rhyming and the pictures captured her attention. We even read it twice before her attention wandered. Fun for everyone!
November 2, 2016
I love Boynton, and this is a great Halloween board book!
Approved by both my grandsons!
Approved by both my grandsons!
December 31, 2016
Cybils nominee for Best Board Book 2o16. More later.
October 7, 2023
Copy provided by Young Adult Book Cental
Strange things are happening, and a flock of chickens explore their surroundings with wide-eyed anxiety. There are strange, glowing pumpkins, enormous mice, talking robots, and even witches and wizards! In a panic, the chickens cover their eyes, but flutter in panic when someone shouts "boo!". A brave chicken shouts to ask what's going on? The answer? Of course, it's Halloween.
I was introduced to Boynton's board books thirty years ago when my first child was born, but had long been a fan of her greeting cards. Titles like Barnyard Dance were read so often that I can still quote most lines. There is an appealing rhythm to her books, fun occurrences, and a great variety of vocabulary, which I greatly appreciate. (This includes intone, enormous, and ridiculous, which are not particularly easy to work into verse!)
Boynton's illustrations are delightful as well. I have a fondness for her pigs, and was glad to see that one appeared at the end in a chicken costume to reassure our flustered fowl. How she can convey so much anxiety in the chicken's eyes with just an oval and a dot is beyond me, but she does a great job. The colors are bright, and the white chickens really pop against the spooky, nighttime backgrounds.
I just found out that there are at least 19 of these board books, and even though I have no children at all to read them to, I still rather want to buy each and every one! This Halloween title goes well with Spooky Pookie and Boo! Baa! La la la!, and makes a great seasonal addition to any board book library.
Strange things are happening, and a flock of chickens explore their surroundings with wide-eyed anxiety. There are strange, glowing pumpkins, enormous mice, talking robots, and even witches and wizards! In a panic, the chickens cover their eyes, but flutter in panic when someone shouts "boo!". A brave chicken shouts to ask what's going on? The answer? Of course, it's Halloween.
I was introduced to Boynton's board books thirty years ago when my first child was born, but had long been a fan of her greeting cards. Titles like Barnyard Dance were read so often that I can still quote most lines. There is an appealing rhythm to her books, fun occurrences, and a great variety of vocabulary, which I greatly appreciate. (This includes intone, enormous, and ridiculous, which are not particularly easy to work into verse!)
Boynton's illustrations are delightful as well. I have a fondness for her pigs, and was glad to see that one appeared at the end in a chicken costume to reassure our flustered fowl. How she can convey so much anxiety in the chicken's eyes with just an oval and a dot is beyond me, but she does a great job. The colors are bright, and the white chickens really pop against the spooky, nighttime backgrounds.
I just found out that there are at least 19 of these board books, and even though I have no children at all to read them to, I still rather want to buy each and every one! This Halloween title goes well with Spooky Pookie and Boo! Baa! La la la!, and makes a great seasonal addition to any board book library.
October 13, 2018
A brood of chickens, anxiety-ridden by the other animals all dressed in costumes, star in Sandra Boynton's latest work of genius. In her classic illustrative style of sweet cartoon animals against solid backgrounds, and with her easy rhyming prose, Boynton gently addresses the anxiety that kids may feel about seeing others dressed up.
Chickens cover their eyes and are "nervous," but everything is shown to be okay when a pig friend (it's the character Pookie, from her other books, I think) tells the "silly chickens" that it's only Halloween! It's nice to have that "silly chicken" line as something you can encourage a child to echo if anxiety around costumes is an issue.
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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...
Chickens cover their eyes and are "nervous," but everything is shown to be okay when a pig friend (it's the character Pookie, from her other books, I think) tells the "silly chickens" that it's only Halloween! It's nice to have that "silly chicken" line as something you can encourage a child to echo if anxiety around costumes is an issue.
---
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...
July 17, 2025
Eek! Halloween!
by Sandra Boynton
Illustrations by the author
Boynton Book Works
An imprint of Simon & Shuster
1025
24 pages
2025
Sandra Boynton is always a child's favorite board book creator
. Frightened chickens cower and cover their eyes. They dare not peek: they might see a witch or a wizard or worse. It's scary outside, and their wide-eyed fright faces show it!
It's not until a kind pig tells them to relax...it's just Halloween, that the chickens calm down.
Boynton books are known for their fun rhymes and sometimes silly stories and Eek! Halloween! delivers. This is a lovely book for any toddler. It's easy to read, easy to hold and most of all: easy to love.
Make this book your new favorite Halloween read for pre-school and ages 2 and up. Highly recommended Halloween fun.
by Sandra Boynton
Illustrations by the author
Boynton Book Works
An imprint of Simon & Shuster
1025
24 pages
2025
Sandra Boynton is always a child's favorite board book creator
. Frightened chickens cower and cover their eyes. They dare not peek: they might see a witch or a wizard or worse. It's scary outside, and their wide-eyed fright faces show it!
It's not until a kind pig tells them to relax...it's just Halloween, that the chickens calm down.
Boynton books are known for their fun rhymes and sometimes silly stories and Eek! Halloween! delivers. This is a lovely book for any toddler. It's easy to read, easy to hold and most of all: easy to love.
Make this book your new favorite Halloween read for pre-school and ages 2 and up. Highly recommended Halloween fun.
October 14, 2025
Of all of Boynton’s Halloween books, this one stands out. Chickens who are chicken must come to grips with the spookiest of holidays.
Moral: Don’t be a yellow belly - it’s just Halloween.
Length: This is a nice short story with a complete plot and pictures that match. No wonder we took our time and enjoyed it.
Favorite Line: “STRANGE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.”
Overall Impression: This is a wonderful story of spooked chickens wanting to fly their coop. There are lots of spooky things our children see at this time of the year and it’s a good reminder to all of us to enjoy the holiday and enjoy the ghastly ghouls and goblins. The same things that scare us can also provide us lots of fun. Eeek! Let’s Trick Or Treat!
Moral: Don’t be a yellow belly - it’s just Halloween.
Length: This is a nice short story with a complete plot and pictures that match. No wonder we took our time and enjoyed it.
Favorite Line: “STRANGE THINGS ARE HAPPENING.”
Overall Impression: This is a wonderful story of spooked chickens wanting to fly their coop. There are lots of spooky things our children see at this time of the year and it’s a good reminder to all of us to enjoy the holiday and enjoy the ghastly ghouls and goblins. The same things that scare us can also provide us lots of fun. Eeek! Let’s Trick Or Treat!
September 28, 2017
We've been browsing Boynton books at stores in the hopes of finding ones similar to our favorite (her Going-to-Bed book). While on the lookout, we came across this one. Yes, it's seasonal but we'll probably use it year round anyway. Some of her books are just songs or lack storylines (those are the ones we don't buy), but this is a fun one about chickens being nervous about all the weird/unusual things happening around them (due to Halloween).
These books are the perfect size for little toddler hands and also bigger parent hands :-) The flow is really great and it's fun to read. I enjoy this one a lot.
These books are the perfect size for little toddler hands and also bigger parent hands :-) The flow is really great and it's fun to read. I enjoy this one a lot.
davy-reads
May 3, 2025I doubt people are using my reviews on here to totally determine if they should buy a kids’ book, so may as well add a fun memory: my child was obsessed with this book around the time that she also got RSV. She did not feel well, and she kept asking for us to read this. My husband and I started entertaining ourselves reading this book by reading in different voices (ie screamo, Justin Bieber, country, Elvis… you get the picture). I have seldom laughed as hard as I did while we did this, and so this book will forever remain a favorite. And it may live in my head, word-for-word, for the rest of my life.
October 29, 2019
The chickens are nervous! They keep seeing strange things: witches and robots and glowing pumpkins! What's going on? Relax, silly chickens! It's just Halloween.
A short, rhyming book that makes for a great addition to storytime, particularly for a mixed-age audience. The older kids love the silly pictures, while the book is geared toward the littlest ones. I used it for three different storytimes in October 2019 and all were well-received. Highly recommend.
A short, rhyming book that makes for a great addition to storytime, particularly for a mixed-age audience. The older kids love the silly pictures, while the book is geared toward the littlest ones. I used it for three different storytimes in October 2019 and all were well-received. Highly recommend.
October 22, 2020
This is our second Sandra Boynton book, and was just as loved as the first one. This one does not have a song that goes along with it, but it doesn’t need one.
This book is cute, and shows animals in different costumes. This short book is really cute, and enjoyable. My daughter loved this book, especially when the chickens yelled “Eek!”
This book is great for young children, and perfect for Halloween.
This book is cute, and shows animals in different costumes. This short book is really cute, and enjoyable. My daughter loved this book, especially when the chickens yelled “Eek!”
This book is great for young children, and perfect for Halloween.
June 25, 2021
Hilarious.
That's really all I can say about this one. It's hilarious. Sandra Boyton is not only good at choosing simple words that draw you in, but her art is comedic. She even uses fonts strategically to convey different emotions.
Superb.
And she has not only grasped the essential character of chickens, but has conveyed it to her audience.
It was great:
Story: Hilarious
Art: Comedic
Price: $6.95
That's really all I can say about this one. It's hilarious. Sandra Boyton is not only good at choosing simple words that draw you in, but her art is comedic. She even uses fonts strategically to convey different emotions.
Superb.
And she has not only grasped the essential character of chickens, but has conveyed it to her audience.
It was great:
Story: Hilarious
Art: Comedic
Price: $6.95
November 6, 2024
Jack borrowed this book from the Oxford Public Library as part of our quest to read all the Sandra Boynton books.
Fittingly, we picked up the book on Halloween but he didn’t want to read it until tonight. I got him interested by pointing out the chickens and making chicken noises. Jack cuddled Thomas while I read and sometimes came over to check out the chickens and other animals more closely. He made lots of chicken noises with me.
Fittingly, we picked up the book on Halloween but he didn’t want to read it until tonight. I got him interested by pointing out the chickens and making chicken noises. Jack cuddled Thomas while I read and sometimes came over to check out the chickens and other animals more closely. He made lots of chicken noises with me.
October 27, 2018
I was a little worried about using a board book in an all-ages storytime. (Will the size be too small to work? Will the older kids think it's too baby-ish?) I shouldn't have been. This is a very fun, simple Halloween story with GREAT rhyming text that's simple enough to recite from memory as you walk the book around the room so everyone can see the pictures.
February 25, 2019
One of our favorite Sandra Boynton books! The chickens are nervous about all the strange things going on. I love the way this book makes all the Halloween festivities seem mysterious because the chickens don't understand it's Halloween.
For more children's book recommendations join the Loud and Cleary Facebook Group at bit.ly/2Vk0MZE or visit https://loudandcleary.com/category/bo...
For more children's book recommendations join the Loud and Cleary Facebook Group at bit.ly/2Vk0MZE or visit https://loudandcleary.com/category/bo...
September 22, 2023
My grandtwins love Sandra Boynton's videos and books. Even though they memorize them immediately, they still love to view them over and over. I picked this one up at the grocery store, E made me read it multiple times before naptime, and demanded "the chicken book" as soon as she woke up. Honestly, what else in life carries so much gratification as a favorite book?
September 24, 2023
We have read this literally every night, without fail, since it’s release.
It’s become such an integral part of our nighttime routine.
We love Halloween in this house and love this book from baby full body laughs, to toddler giggles to the over dramatization of my kids. This book has been with us through it all.
Relax chickens, it’s Halloween.
It’s become such an integral part of our nighttime routine.
We love Halloween in this house and love this book from baby full body laughs, to toddler giggles to the over dramatization of my kids. This book has been with us through it all.
Relax chickens, it’s Halloween.
October 3, 2023
I like this one. But I have to say that I've found that my kids don't gravitate towards this one. I don't know if they don't fully get the concept at such a young age, or if the pacing feels a little slow to them. Either way, they don't ask for it as much and they don't seem to stay engaged all the way to the very end.
September 10, 2024
Getting into the spooky season, I figured I'd borrow this book now because Boynton was a favorite when I read to my kids, I love her Instagram, and will always stop to read a new book (or an oldie I missed).
This rhyming story about everyone dressed up as other things/animals but in the end, it's only Halloween.
This rhyming story about everyone dressed up as other things/animals but in the end, it's only Halloween.
March 9, 2019
It's March, so clearly we don't subsrcibe to the idea that seasonal books need to be read at a certain time of the year. Silly and fun book, that made us all giggle, especially at the end when mama does silly voices and we all yell Boo and shriek Eeeeeek. 🐔🐔🐔
Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews