The house on Pleasant Street by Sofie Laguna and Marc McBride

Looking at the splendid endpapers, intrigued readers will wonder what has happened in the exciting tree house to make such holes in the carpet, as the family moves into Pleasant Street just before Halloween. And a most unusual family at that. Their house sits on top of a tree, their pet is a dragon in training and all Alby wants to do is meet the kids and make friends. But with an embarrassing father this may prove difficult.

On Halloween the neighbourhood kids all don their outfits and go door to door. Alby’s parents do not need to dress up and instead of offering a treat all other parents do, Dad pushes Alby to plays a trick. Dalai, normally a bit behind in her dragon fire efforts, conjures a Halloween flash that startles all comers. Abby is mortified, but the neighbours cheer loudly. Alby and his family sit down for their dinner but hearing nosies from the back garden, peer out and Dad is elated when he spies the neighbourhood children playing a trick.

Delightfully illustrated, McBride painting by hand and airbrushing details along with digital technologies, the energetic drawings full of colour and verve, will mesmerise all readers, intent on vacuuming up all the details, looking for Halloween clues in the backgrounds while marvelling at Alby’s family.  I loved the endpapers, and loved checking out the details in the house, and their clothing, matching them against other things which make Halloween recognisable. Readers will be able to spot many of the customs associated with Halloween, and join in the fun themselves when their neighbourhood street becomes involved.

Themes: Halloween, Friendship, Dragons, Neighbourhood, Moving house, Humour.

Fran Knight