A series of creatures, from a black cat to a witch, a ghoul to a ghost, each attempt to tickle or prick the tapping toe hanging down from a dock in this entertaining Halloween picture-book. As one after the other is foiled by the next creature, they eventually attract the attention of the toe-owner - a fiddle-playing girl - who informs them that the toe is HER's, thank you very much...

Originally published in 1993, and then reprinted in this 2009 edition, By the Light of the Halloween Moon uses a cumulative narrative - "A ghost! / A williwaw ghost / who trips the ghoul / Who swats at the bat / Who bumps the witch as she snatches the cat / When he springs through the air to catch the toe / that taps a tune in the dead of night" - that put me in mind of classic nursery rhymes like "This Is the House That Jack Built." The text here reads well, and the artwork is appropriately spooky, while also being humorous. Recommended to anyone looking for entertaining nursery-rhyme style picture-books for Halloween. ( )

This Halloween book uses typical Halloween characters to tell the cause and effect story of what happens when the witch tries to grab the little girls toe.
2 books

By the Light of the Halloween Moon is a fun, cumulative tale that will keep kids interested the whole time. Throughout this whole book a young girl is sitting on the edge of a pier with her toes hanging over the edge. As she sits, she is tapping out the tune of this Halloween and playing a violin (but this is unknown until the end). As she is minding her own business a cat spots her toes, then a witch, then a bungling bat, a ghoul.....as well as other strange creatures. Each on a mission to either pitch, bit, or grab her toe as she pays no mind. Who will get her toes first? read and find out! This story is not only cumulative but offers descriptive words as well. With each introduction, the author uses words to describe each new character making it easier for readers to make a mental image. For example, "a bunging bouncy breezy bat" and more. I would recommend this book to any that wants to get into the Halloween spirit ! ( )

This story is a great read aloud for Halloween! It is mildly scary but, oh, so silly and the girl who is the main character is very brave indeed. After all, she is making music in the dark!

The fun refrain for a large group is: "By the light, by the light, of the Halloween moon." I like to draw moon out like moooon.

Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. ( )

This story is a fun, repetitive, bouncy, rhythmic tale that is sure to make children laugh. I think it is a great way to help children conquer their fears of Halloween creatures by having the girl bite, swat, hit, and yell at the creatures, clearly demonstrating that their is nothing to be afraid of, even by the light of the Halloween moon.