Anxieties get aired in Happy Halloween, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt, illus. by Cyd Moore, which brings back the titular worrywart and his comforting mother, who can trouble-shoot just about anything: "What if the candle in our jack-o'-lantern blows out? What if we accidentally walk into some big sticky cobwebs and get all tangled up?" (Scholastic/Cartwheel, $15.99 32p ages 4-8 ISBN 9780-439-77977-7; Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Long-time collaborators McCourt and Moore offer another holiday Stinky Face book. In this one, the usual pattern is repeated: Stinky Face asks his mother a host of "what ifs" concerning everything from people turning into butterflies to people in cat costumes being rescued by faux firefighters. As the story line is so familiar, it's important that the tale is kept somewhat fresh by Moore's illustrations, and she comes up with some very creative Halloween outfits for Stinky Face and his friends. The illustrations seem to have grown larger over the series, making it easier to use the book in a storytime situation. One can never have too many Halloween picture books, and readers already familiar with Stinky Face and his imaginative fears will enjoy this one. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The little boy with the unfortunate nickname returns in a fifth book, this time with questions about Halloween. As before, Stinky Face is full of what-ifs. What if Mrs. Petry gets so scared by the costumed boy and his friends that she spills the candy? What if a friend's butterfly costume turns her into a real butterfly and she flies up to the sky? Mom, of course, has answers to everything, but when the boy starts wondering if he should change his costume to superhero or firefighter, the answer is clear: this year he'll stick to his ghost costume. Books about Halloween always offer plenty of opportunity for creative art, and this is no exception. Although the story concept is a little tired, the fall-colored  ink-and-watercolor paintings are full of detailed fun as they pair imagination with reality. Kids will like seeing the characters in their costumes and maybe get some ideas for their costumes of their own.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2007 Booklist