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Good books, old friends

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By Kara G. Kvasnicka

Tuesday, November 29, -0001

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Charles M. Schulz' classic cartoon, "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," first aired in 1966 and remains a perennial favorite among children of all ages. Luckily, it is available on videocassette for those of us who only look forward to the Halloween season as an excuse to watch it at least a few more times.

All the Peanuts characters give Emmy caliber performances in this feature. They blend just the right amount of angst and humor, wisdom and innocence, into their Halloween celebrations. But it is that beloved beagle, Snoopy, with his flair for the dramatic on the one paw and his brilliant comedic timing on the other who steels the show.

When he acts out the adventures of the World War I Flying Ace, he shows that a Halloween costume can serve as a tremendous catalyst to the imagination. He also reminds us that dogs are just as eager to get in on the fun as the animals with whom you would most readily associate this holiday — black cats.

In honor of Snoopy's irrepressible spirit and his matchless contribution to the Peanuts' Halloween special, let me introduce you to, or review with you, some Halloween stories starring some very special canines. These stories are written for children 3 to 8 but are appealing to children of all ages.

If you wish to go no further than Snoopy's tricks and treats, there are several Peanuts books in which the Great Pumpkin story appears. Trick or Treat, Great Pumpkin (HarperCollins, 1996, $16.95) brings the story exciting interactive dimensions.

The story is abridged but the nifty sound panel of ringing doorbells, slamming doors, chirping crickets and a truly ghoulish Great Pumpkin howl almost makes up for memorable parts of the story which have been excluded.

Pop-ups, holograms and a lift-the-flap enliven Linus' quest for the Great Pumpkin and the romantic scenes where Linus and Sally wait patiently in the pumpkin patch for the great one's arrival. Snoopy does not get to be a heroic fighter pilot in this book, but he does make a compelling cameo appearance on the last page.

Dav Pilkey's The Hallo-Wiener (Blue Sky Press, 1995, $12.95) is another equally fun if lesser known canine Halloween tale. It stars the lovable Oscar who, like so many other heroes and heroines of children's literature, is a misfit. He must learn how to make his peers appreciate his unique physical features rather than make fun of them.

Oscar, described as "half-a-dog tall and one-and-a-half dogs long," is teased by the other dogs because of his "unusual shape and size."

They constantly assail him with the taunt "Wiener Dog." His affectionate mom does not help his case by sending him off to school every morning with the endearment, "Farewell, my little Vienna sausage."

Halloween promises to be a worse ordeal for Oscar when he sees the costume his mother has designed especially for him: "a giant hot-dog bun, complete with mustard. And guess who was supposed to fit in the middle?"

But Halloween night instead provides Oscar with his first opportunity to demonstrate some advantages of his unique shape and size. If he were just like everyone else, Oscar would not have been able to perform the act which saves his "friends" from bone-chilling danger.

Recognizing this, the other dogs reward Oscar's quick-witted actions on their behalf by changing their nickname for him from "Wiener Dog" to "Hero Sandwich."

Pilkey captivates readers with his lively narrative – filled with witty gems for adults reading to children – and warm, colorful, humorous illustrations. In addition to giving children who feel like misfits a lift (what child does not from time to time), Pilkey's story gently reminds parents to let their children help design their costumes. Kids undoubtedly have their own ideas about who they want to be and the mood they want their costume to evoke.

For sheer, light-hearted Halloween fun, Clifford the Big Red Dog is your canine. Author and illustrator Norman Bridwell has created two Halloween adventures for Emily Elizabeth's larger-than-life pet: Clifford's Halloween (Scholastic, 1986, $2.99) and Clifford's First Halloween (Scholastic, 1995, $2.50).

In Clifford's Halloween, Clifford is just one of the other kids at Emily Elizabeth's Halloween party and on trick-or-treating rounds. Just in case you or your child needs ideas, he also models a stunning array of Halloween costumes.

He does basically the same things in Clifford's First Halloween, only as a "small, red puppy" rather than his full-grown self.

Both stories delightfully anticipate the Halloween fun which is probably now beginning to fill your child's every thought. The illustrations especially show why we cannot get enough of this dog's amiable smile and effervescent personality.

You are not likely to find a spooky-looking dog in any Halloween displays, but Snoopy, Oscar and Clifford are eager and waiting at your nearest library or book store to be included in your literary plans for the holiday.

Happy Halloween!

Kvasnicka, a former East Village Magazine news editor, has been the magazine's contributing editor and research consultant since 1989. She has a master's degree in information and library studies from the University of Michigan and works for the Genesee District Library.