PRECIOUS AND THE BOO HAG

A quick-witted child confronts a scary character (here somewhat toned down) from Gullah folklore in this largely original tale. Left alone to nurse a stomachache while the rest of her family works the fields, young Precious isn’t sure whether to take seriously her brother’s warning about letting the evil, shapeshifting Boo Hag into the house—until the creature herself shows up, flashing “eyes of burning cinder and hair that shot out like lightning.” Brooker underscores the story’s rustic flavor by surrounding most of her terrific paint and collage scenes with a peeling board frame and gives pigtailed Precious a winningly scared but resolute look. After repeatedly seeing through a series of flawed disguises (the Boo Hag being powerful, but none too bright), Precious drifts off to sleep in triumph, supposing—wrongly, as a nape-prickling final scene reveals—that the Hag has given up. Fine fare for Halloween, or general under-the-covers reading. (Picture book. 6-8)