The adaptation decreased the number of children to three boys and a girl. But that is a minor complaint I suppose it was a product of its times? Although, in 1972 I was just out of college and planning to have a career, and even then I would have wanted some girls in the book. I am sure that I am not the first person to wish that this book had included some girls. Before that they visit mummies in Egypt, Rome, Greece, medieval Britain, and gargoyles at Notre Dame in Paris. I especially like that the last country visited is Mexico and El Dia de Los Muertos. The story is a combination of two quests: a journey through several countries to see different versions of the Halloween story and to find Pipkin, who keeps eluding them. He promises to meet them at a haunted house where they instead encounter an odd man, Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud.

Rows of oil lamps were nailed to house fronts and the soft smoke from these rose up on the twilight air like wandering spirits.Eight boys go out trick-or-treating on Halloween, but their friend Pipkin is not feeling well enough to join them. …torn out like a tooth and carried off on a black tide of web and horn and black soot. Shades snap-furled up so that windows blinked wide their ghastly eyes. The wind outside nested in each tree, prowled the sidewalks in invisible threads like unseen cats. If that isn’t proof enough of how much I enjoyed it then I don’t know what is.įavourite quotes and passages from The Halloween Tree: I think this book will become one I read every year before Halloween to help me get into the spirit of the season. Bradbury takes us and his characters on a informative but thrilling ride while offering a heart warming, humbling and beautiful story. I will keep this review, like the book itself, short. It’s a beautiful tale of friendship, steeped in the history of Halloween – I can completely understand why it has been called the Halloween version of “A Christmas Carol”. If you pick up this book expecting a short horror story, you will be disappointed. I believe they worked together on a lot of other projects too. This edition also features some truly incredible illustrations by Joseph Mugnaini which help you conjure the hugely visual scenes that Bradbury wants you to see. The writing style seems slightly disjointed at times and certain bits I had to read again for it to make sense in my head, but this in no way took away from the overall experience though. While aimed at a younger audience, the depth the story has means is easy to enjoy for all ages.

A great short story written by one of the heavy weights of American Literature, Ray Bradbury, The Halloween Tree follows a group of friends going from trick or treating, to travelling through time with the mysterious and magical Mr Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud learning the history of Halloween while trying to save their friend Pipkin who was snatched by a nefarious spirit on his way to meet them.

The halloween tree book cover