  | Lila and the jack-o-lantern : Halloween comes to America Author: Churnin, Nancy | |
| Price: $23.28 | ||
Summary:
Before emigrating from Ireland, Lila assures her siblings they will still celebrate Halloween in America, but with no turnips to carve into jack-o-lanterns, Lila must get creative to keep her promise. Includes a recipe for colcannon.
| Illustrator: | Bray, Anneli |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (10/01/23)
School Library Journal (+) (09/22/23)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 09/22/2023 PreS-Gr 3—A delightfully written story based on how the Irish brought their Halloween traditions to America. Lila and her family leave Ireland in 1850 due to the potato famine, but Lila is worried about leaving behind her Halloween traditions. In Ireland, a sly spirit named Jack walked the streets on Halloween, playing pranks. So, the children carved turnips into jack-o'-lanterns and put them in their windows so he wouldn't visit their house. They also wore sheets and knocked on doors for treats, thinking Jack would believe them to be spirits. When Lila cannot find any turnips in America, she thinks a pumpkin at the market might work. She and her new friend Julia make a jack-o'-lantern from the pumpkin, eat her mother's colcannon (mashed potatoes, kale, and onions) and barmbrack (fruit bread), and roast the pumpkin seeds. They start a new friendship and a new American Halloween tradition. Illustrations are done in warm autumn hues, capturing the time period perfectly, with whimsical artwork. Back matter includes an author's note and information on the traditional Irish foods of barmbrack and colcannon, including a recipe for the latter. VERDICT A lovely story time book that lends itself to great discussions on Halloween traditions. This delightful picture book is a must-have for elementary libraries.—Nancy Hawkins - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
School Library Journal - 09/22/2023 PreS-Gr 3—A delightfully written story based on how the Irish brought their Halloween traditions to America. Lila and her family leave Ireland in 1850 due to the potato famine, but Lila is worried about leaving behind her Halloween traditions. In Ireland, a sly spirit named Jack walked the streets on Halloween, playing pranks. So, the children carved turnips into jack-o'-lanterns and put them in their windows so he wouldn't visit their house. They also wore sheets and knocked on doors for treats, thinking Jack would believe them to be spirits. When Lila cannot find any turnips in America, she thinks a pumpkin at the market might work. She and her new friend Julia make a jack-o'-lantern from the pumpkin, eat her mother's colcannon (mashed potatoes, kale, and onions) and barmbrack (fruit bread), and roast the pumpkin seeds. They start a new friendship and a new American Halloween tradition. Illustrations are done in warm autumn hues, capturing the time period perfectly, with whimsical artwork. Back matter includes an author's note and information on the traditional Irish foods of barmbrack and colcannon, including a recipe for the latter. VERDICT A lovely story time book that lends itself to great discussions on Halloween traditions. This delightful picture book is a must-have for elementary libraries.—Nancy Hawkins - Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
