THE PERFECT PUMPKIN PIE

A lad and his imperturbable grandma draw the attention of a pie-lovin’ ghost in this comical country tale. No sooner does Granny put a pumpkin pie on the windowsill to cool than up rises Old Man Wilkerson from the garden, threatening, “It must be perfect / or a ghost I’ll stay, / and haunt this house / and never, ever / go awaaaaaaaay!” Unfortunately, he’s picky: The first pie won’t do (“It looks like papier-mâché!”), nor the second (“Next time, pleeeeeeease, MORE CINNAMON!”). Third time’s the charm—or is it? Cazet takes cues from David Catrow and Stephen Gammell for his art, depicting Wilkerson as a wild, disjointed figure with his good eye in one hand and a fork in the other, surrounded by scribbled lines and sprays of paint. No recipe, but still a mouthwatering crowd-pleaser, at Halloween or any other time. (Picture book. 6-8)