SIX CREEPY SHEEP

Six gray-faced sheep, in individualized ghost costumes, set out for trick or treating; but each time they encounter other costumed creatures, ``one creepy sheep turned tail with a shriek,'' until just one remains. Back at the barn, it calls out, ``sheep trick or treat'' and gains admission to a Halloween party featuring all the other haunters seen along the way. Rhythmic, repetitive, and alliterative, the text also has frequent internal rhymes and clever plays on collective nouns—the ``gaggle of goblins'' are geese, the ``warren of witches'' rabbits—and there's a deliciously suspenseful pause (``UNTIL'') before each page turn. O'Brien's textured pen-and-watercolor art adds immensely to the fun; the fine detail and varied layout invite close inspection, while his ability to capitalize on the riches offered in the deceptively simple text deserves special notice. (Picture Book. 2-6)