| Halloween ABC | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Eve Merriam |
| Illustrator | Lane Smith |
| Publication date | 1990 |
| ISBN | 068980198X |
Halloween ABC is a book of poetry for children, written by Eve Merriam and illustrated by Lane Smith. It includes a poem related to a scary or Halloween related theme for each letter of the alphabet.
Halloween ABC is on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000.[1]
The challenges to the book are due to the mismatch that many parents have perceived between the frightening or gruesome subject matter and the age group that an ABC book would usually be intended for.
The School Library Journal recommends Halloween ABC for children K and up, and states that: “This is not a book for young children to learn the alphabet, but it is a witty, whimsical, and happily shivery book for Halloween sharing. It is also a wonderful book for monster- and horror-loving youngsters at any time of the year and a diabolic way for poetry-loving adults to introduce the work of one of our best contemporary poets [...]”[2]