Bat Bones and Spider Stew

by Michelle Poploff

Get ready to celebrate Halloween with this spooktacular beginning reader chapter

Henry Hooper is a little nervous about going to his friend Artie Doomsday's house on top of Hallows Hill.  Everybody calls the hill HAUNTED Hill, and when Henry meets Artie's sister Wanda and Granny Doomsday, he starts to wonder if the Doomsday household is haunted, too.  Especially when Granny starts cooking up a big pot of bat bones and spider stew!  Is this some kind of crazy Halloween prank, or is the Doomsday family for real?


Michelle Poploff is the author of two chapter books, Splash-a-Roo and Snowflakes and Tea Party for Two.   

Bill Basso has illustrated many children's books, including the Dragon Slayers' Academy series and Wolfman Sam.

Genres: Halloween, Childrens, Picture Books, Chapter Books, Holiday

48 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 1998

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book forever ago. It was one of the first books I think I read and I have always wanted to find it, but have been unable to. Well I have found it, and I haven't forgotten a thing about it. I love this book : ) 5 STARS!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halloween is upon Henry Hooper and his new friend Artie Doomsday. Henry loves Halloween, but he is afraid to visit Artie's house and grandma. Artie lives in a big, old, spooky house and his sister is pretty creepy too.

When they arrive, Henry gets the hiccups because he is nervous. He is nervous about Artie's strange looking grandma and the odd dinner menu that doesn't sound like anything he would like to eat.
When they begin to tell jokes, taking turns around the table, Henry forgets to be nervous. He enjoys the jokes, the dinner and the company of his friend and his friends family.

This is a very cute book, that shows it is okay to be nervous when you experience something new, but it is good to try new things. There is even a recipe at the end for the Monster Milk Shake that Grandma makes for the kids.

Pick this up for Halloween and you just might find yourself reading it to your kids all year long.

[Kathleen Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Working at a bookstore, I was looking for a book for a customer and came across this book. I literally felt like I traveled back in time. I was frozen solid as my brain was transported back to my early reading days. I read this book as a kid. It wasn't a favorite or anything, something I completely forgot about after reading it. It was startling to realize I'd read it and forgotten all about it! So I decided to reread it today. It was adorable and fun for a beginning reader, and the illustrations were funky and definitely what made this book stand out from the depths of my memory.

[JoAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a perfect book to read with my 6 year old. A transition from readers to chapter books, it had plenty of pictures to help her transition and the story was well written to keep her attention. A fun Halloween read for a 1st grader!

[✨️NumosLox✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this. was. my. favorite. book as a child. its all worn out and clearly has been used, but i still have it held together by tape. and sometimes ill go find it and read it again and it still gives me the same feeling as it did back then. absolutely LOVE this book.

[Hope Anderson (HopelessBookAddict) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread...
I remember LOVING this book when I was little...and I still love it now! So cute and creative.

[Nichole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny book about how Halloween-spooky things are fun spooky instead of real-spooky.

[Shelbi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book for Halloween time!!

[Anaiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book growing up, it was one of those books you remember loving but forget the name and lose your copy. I went years trying to find this book and finally found it! It's a great Halloween time book for kids (and adults) with a yummy recipe in the back.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry's new friend, Artie, lives in the neighborhood's "haunted" house. He meets Artie's family and eats with them before trick-or-treating. Wonderful, funny illustrations enhance the chapters and riddles galore.

themes: friends, Halloween, hicups

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book is a good book to read at halloween time

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irresistibly cute! The illustrations are great and the riddles that are interspersed throughout the text keep the tone fun and interesting.

[Earline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute Halloween story about a boy who visits his friends haunted house for dinner. I loved the silly riddles and beautiful full-color illustrations.

[Marrrrrrsitaaa]

amo la ilustración 🤌🏻

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really cute Halloween book with beautiful illustrations and lots of riddles.