This is my second Scaredy Squirrel book and I found it enjoyable though not as much so as my first one, which was Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend. On this note though, there seems to be two different kind of books in this series, one being the normal Scaredy Squirrel books like the first one I read and the other being Scaredy Squirrel Safety Guides, which is what this book was. The Safety Guide books are about twice as long as the normal books in the series and of course, have less of a flowing storyline and more of guidebook or survival guide feel to them. I didn’t enjoy this difference quite as much, though there were still times that made me chuckle out loud. Overall, it’s still a cute book and Scaredy Squirrel is adorable.

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween: A Safety Guide for Scaredies by Mélanie Watt: 3/5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ( )

That neurotic sciurine hero, Scaredy Squirrel, returns in this, his eighth picture-book adventure, this time offering a handy guide to preparing for Halloween. From decorations to costumes, candy to party-planning, everything a timid child might need to make this somewhat spooky holiday safe and fun is covered.

Although the eighth picture-books devoted to Scaredy's efforts to safeguard his world, Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween: A Safety Guide for Scaredies is only the second, after Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Christmas: A Safety Guide for Scaredies, that is formatted in this guidebook manner. Although less narrative-driven than some of the other books in the series, it is nevertheless engaging and funny, with bright, colorful illustrations, and a comic-book style that works very well with the text. All in all, an entertaining addition to the Scaredy Squirrel collection! ( )

Scaredy Squirrel Prepares for Halloween is a children’s book for…well…what it says, preparing for Halloween. I love Halloween, so I wanted to see what this book had to offer and it is super cute. Scaredy walks kids through how they should plan, but also be safe on Halloween. It has diagrams and maps and is very fun. However, I think there is a little bit of disconnect, there are a lot of things that children may not understand and I think are geared toward parents. But that is the fun of it, that reading it with your child and pointing safety out is a good thing, especially for a crazy, candy-filled night like Halloween.

The pictures were cute and colorful and the examples throughout were fun and relatable for the most part. Overall I think a child would love to read this book and dwell on Halloween and its goodies.
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Disappointing entry in the series.  Lots of charts and lists, no story.  If anything, it'll give an anxious child even more things to be fretful about.  I also got bored, and did not read every word or even look at every picture.  More to see on each page than many Eyewitness books!  Not recommended, sorry. ( )

Received as a ARC copy for a unbiased review from NetGalley.



Scaredy Squirrel is in fact scared of everything. He is extremely careful, responsible and generally sees threats everywhere we most likely would not. In this installment of the Scaredy Squirrel series, we look at Halloween, and the various ways to have safe fun while celebrating such a fearsome holiday!

The book goes over good ideas for costumes complete with a scare-o-meter (vampire, mummy, a nut) and various games that can be played when holding a Halloween Party (costume party, IQ tests based on Halloween related topics). The style of the book is humorous, with a hint of common sense. Remember kids, education on the dangers around you make you a informed person but don’t let it stop you from having SAFE fun!

The book also instructs kids the woes of candy collection: how big your bag should be, how you should have an adult (Food Quality Control Specialist) check your candy to make sure its edible. There is even a section on carving your own pumpkin, which is both informative and entertaining for all ages while using safe tools for the creation (flashlight instead of candles, brilliant!).

The reader is also told the strengths and weaknesses of each classic monster so that, when trick or treating, we can fight back the creatures of the night that run amok on All Hallows Eve.

In all, Scaredy Squirrel has done it again, combining sensibility and humor to create something beautiful. Children will learn about Halloween, and the basic necessary knowledge surrounding the holiday, while adults will get a kick out of the word switching to subtly change the meanings of sentences to add another level of humor for the parents reading to their children. The author attempts to appeal to every reader, and succeeds fantastically. ( )