June 1, 2022
PreS-K-While preparing for a perfect Halloween, Lilo, a Hawaiian girl, and Stitch, her adopted alien friend, list three things they will need: costumes, a pumpkin, and candy. After trying on cat, doll, and clown costumes, they settle on a vampire for Stitch. Text reads, "It is perfect!" Stitch makes short work of pumpkin carving with his laser, and the two set out trick-or-treating. But Stitch, more intent on tricks than treats, scares people so much that unhappy Lilo doesn't get any candy. When Stitch surprises her with a huge pile of treats, she is delighted-until she discovers he has obtained his stash by tricking the other children. "That is wrong," the text reads. Stitch and Lilo make amends by flying above the children in Stitch's spaceship and dropping candy to them. So ends their "perfect" Halloween. The artwork, executed in familiar colorful Disney cartoon style, depicts Stitch with large ears protruding on either side of his blue head and sharp teeth within his grinning mouth. The text succeeds as a Level 2 Reader, with limited vocabulary and short sentences. VERDICT This overtly didactic story does not provide an opportunity for readers to come to their own conclusions about Stitch's actions. Nevertheless, fans of little alien Stitch might find it enjoyable.-Marianne Saccardi
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.