Sheep Trick or Treat

September 1, 1997
PreS-Gr 2-These sheep have been in a jeep, on a ship, in a shop, on a hike, and out to eat-maybe it's time they took a rest. Sheep Trick or Treat is just not up to par with the earlier titles. Shaw's familiar rhythm and rhyme are still in evidence as the six prepare costumes and head out trick or treating. They collect goodies from the farm animals ("Spiders give a dried-up fly. Sheep decide to pass it by"). And as one might expect, they are followed by wolves dressed in sheepskins. Apple's illustrations here are somewhat dark and shadowy. The sheep dressed as a vampire on the front cover may actually frighten some children. There is nothing terribly wrong with this book, but it just isn't very interesting. Unless you are badly in need of Halloween books, or have some die-hard fans who must see it, this is not a necessary addition to picture-book collections. These sheep have gone on better romps before.-Dina Sherman, Brooklyn Children's Museum, NY

September 1, 1997
Ages 3^-5. They're at it again. The rambunctious sheep, who have so delighted kids with their antics "in a jeep," "in a shop," and "on a ship," are back, this time decked out for Halloween highjinks. Predictably, their trick-or-treating has its ups and downs: "Spiders give a dried-up fly. / Sheep decide to pass it by. Sheep stop by the chicken coop. / Chickens give them fresh eggs. Oops!" But nothing--not even hungry wolves in disguise--can spoil their fun. Shaw's text doesn't scan quite as nicely as in some of the other books, but it's still fresh and lively, as are Apple's appropriately autumnal pictures. A Halloween treat to enjoy over and over again. ((Reviewed Sept. 1, 1997))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1997, American Library Association.)