Halloween Helpers

Pee Wee Scouts #33

by Judy Delton

Mrs. Peters is missing! The Pee Wees' leader has been called out of town on a family emergency. Who will run their scout meetings now that Mrs. Peters is gone? And who will help the Pee Wees plan their big Halloween party? Captain Spencer is the first substitute to take charge. He makes everyone march in a line and uses big words that nobody understands. Then there's ditzy Brandi. She laughs at Roger's dumb jokes and thinks slime-ball art is a fun project. Molly is sure there will be no costume contests or bobbing for apples this year. But then the Pee Wees get another substitute leader. And she has a plan to make this the best Halloween ever!

Genres: Fiction, Childrens, Halloween

128 pages, Paperback

First published September 8, 1997

About the author

Born on May 6th in St. Paul, Minnesota, Judy Delton lived in her hometown for most of her life. She wrote more than one hundred books for children, including the popular Pee Wee Scouts series, which sold more than seven million copies. Her writing was often compared to Beverly Cleary or Carolyn Haywood for her ability to capture the essence of childhood.

For many years, Ms. Delton taught writing classes in her home. Today, those writers are having their own books published and remember her forthright instruction and critique with appreciation. Many writers have benefited from her handbook, The 29 Most Common Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

Ms. Delton had four children and decided to quit teaching so she could stay home and raise them. Writing prolifically was her way of supporting her family. She died very suddenly of a blood infection in December of 2001. Her legions of friends and all those she taught were greatly saddened.

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm almost positive I read these Pee Wee Scout books as a kid, but I can't remember. Anyway, as I'm going through my first quarter of reading various series books for beginner readers, I came across this older one, and I loved it! The kids are hilarious (even if there are thirteen, which can get tricky to keep track of) and the situations are wild.

In this installment, the Pee Wee Scouts have lost their leader, Mrs. Peters, who is away helping her ill mother, which leaves the Scouts without a leader. Soon a slew of different substitutes arrive, old, and young, but they aren't good fits. On top of everything else, it's almost Halloween and nobody has panned anything! What will the scouts do?

I was thoroughly charmed by the characters, the situations, and the illustrations by Alan Tiegreen (who illustrated many editions of Beverly Cleary's Ramona Quimby series). I wish my library had a few copies of these wonderful stories that are not only funny but teach kids about the importance of doing good for others and giving back, instead of getting. Very clever and cute. My rating - 5/5