TUCK’S HAUNTED HOUSE
by Martha Weston & illustrated by Martha Weston
Weston’s piggy siblings, Tuck and Bunny (Tuck in the Pool, 1995), finally return for a humorous Halloween escapade. Tuck decides to transform his family garage into a Haunted House for his friends. For maximum chills, the young pig arranges a maze of scary exhibits to titillate his visitors. In the midst of preparing the Ancient Mummy, Tuck’s Tunnel of Doom, and the Icky Drippy Forest, the irrepressible Bunny (who insists on helping) interrupts him. However, Bunny’s extravagant exuberance irritates Tuck, who, in pursuit of perfection, refuses Bunny’s assistance and banishes her to the corner. When his friends arrive, Tuck promptly forgets about the now-sleeping Bunny, who awakens from her slumber to give the party its most hair-raising and hilarious moments. Weston blends just the right amount of thrills and humor into this lighthearted tale. Observation of Tuck’s preparations allows readers to experience the excitement of the haunted house without the fright, revealing such mysteries as Ghouls’ Eyeballs—peeled grapes—and the Cauldron of Worms with Evil Monster Baby—Bunny’s doll stuffed in a pot of noodles. The droll watercolor-and-pencil illustrations further dispel any lingering anxieties, providing clues for the savvy reader as to the identity of the shrieking waif who startles Tuck and friends. Slapstick comedy on scale for pint-sized readers, fans will rejoice in this follow-up tale featuring the zany antics of this inimitable piglet pair. (Picture book. 4-7)