Halloween stories> Holiday books cater to all age levels – from kids to adults

SHY MAMA’S HALLOWEEN By Anne Broyles; illustrated by Leane Morin, Tilbury House Publishers, Gardiner, Maine; 2000; $16.95.

Although many books have been written with Halloween themes, few have captured the true enchantment of a night when even the most mundane objects are transformed and all dreams seem possible. None has done so quite as exquisitely as Anne Broyle’s “Shy Mama’s Halloween,” and the newly published book is so much more.

According to Whitefield illustrator Leane Morin, “It’s about a mother’s love for her children; the courage to face fears; and the joy of feeling part of something, of feeling a sense of belonging for the first time.”

Anya and her siblings, in their first American autumn, can’t wait to go trick-or-treating. They had never experienced anything quite like Halloween in Russia. Their mother, shy even in her native land and overwhelmed by her strange new life, is frightened by the prospect. She wants to have nothing to do with a celebration revolving around “ghosts and goblins, witches and spirits.”

Fortunately for the children, their father, more adventurous and familiar with American customs, is willing to be their escort. A neighbor, who is a skilled seamstress, transforms fabric remnants into princess, clown, witch, and devil costumes. On Halloween, after barely picking at their supper, the children wait for Papa.

The minutes tick by. Other children can be heard laughing and knocking at doors. Then, when Papa arrives he’s too sick to go out. Anya’s heart is heavy as she consoles baby brother Dimitri, reminding him there will be other Halloweens and that Papa can’t help being sick and Mama can’t help being shy.

But they don’t miss out. Nothing taps on Mama’s inner strength more than her love for her children. As she escorts them from house to house, and they savor the magic of Halloween, they receive a gift far more precious than candy treats.

“Here, in the darkness, surrounded by what seemed like hundreds of other children, we, too, were American. No one cared that our ‘thank you’ was said with an accent. No one cared that our Mama, in her babushka, could speak only a few words of English. Halloween was our holiday, as much as anyone else’s.”

When they return home, Mama has an even bigger surprise for her children. You’ll have to read the book to see what it is.

Morin’s richly detailed paintings complement beautifully the eloquent simplicity of the text. It is easy to see that the story spoke to both the child she was and the parent she is. Her most vivid early Halloween memory is of the agony of having to eat her supper, impatient to get into her costume and join in the fun. This anticipation is captured perfectly in the picture where the children sit waiting, listening to the festive sounds from the street. As a parent, she discovered an even greater satisfaction in creating costumes for her own children. Mama shares this delight in giving of self to loved ones.

Morin’s loving depictions of the family were aided by her careful choice of models. Two of her own children posed for her. Finding a model for Mama was more challenging.

“She needed to be able to show quiet joy,” Morin said. “Susan [a friend] has that exact look when she talks about her children. Her eyes sparkle.”

Teachers, intermediate and primary, will find “Shy Mama’s Halloween” quite satisfying for classroom sharing. A series of questions at the end of the book can help students draw on their own memories to more fully understand the immigration experience and gain ways of reaching out to newcomers in their own communities.

Best wishes for a safe and magical Halloween!