Colored font depicts heightened emotions while warm-hued, playful illustrations entertain emerging readers and provide ample context for comprehension and fluency. If Scarlet wanted to nap, Igor wanted to dance.' Characters mirror preschoolers' emotional understanding of friendship and each of the stories provides a lighthearted plot as Scarlet and Igor learn that no matter what disagreements ensue, working things out together is even better. Youngsters will laugh as 'spooky friends' - Scarlet, a green, pigtailed vampire (complete with pet bat), and Igor, a tubby mummy - find solutions to their capricious disagreements: 'If Igor wanted to read, Scarlet wanted to sing.

5-8), 'Feder's early-reader text addresses experiences that are relatable to children, and it includes useful repetition and age-appropriate vocabulary.' - Horn Book Reviews, 'Move over, Frog and Toad, to make room for this delightful new title.' - Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal This tale of friendship unfolds in three short stories written with simple phrases and strong dialogue.

Move over, Frog and Toad, to make room for this delightful new title. Feder masterfully employs repetition of the more challenging words throughout the perfectly paced text, while Downing charmingly captures every mercurial emotion in the detailed ballpoint pen, watercolor and digital illustrations. Readers will cheer when they see how the two buddies have filled it. After an art duel that produces colorful shapes and a 'tree with branches,' they arrange their separate pieces to form a lovely display that has one last blank spot. The final chapter is one of artistic differences. When they discover a litter of eight, all the names they have come up with are put to good use. The second chapter finds them heatedly debating what name would be perfect for their pet cat's new kitten. Alternating shouts for 'gooseberry jelly' and 'chestnut butter' grow increasingly louder until the friends hit upon the obvious solution. When Igor made a tall tower, Scarlet made it short.' It comes as no surprise that they want different kinds of sandwiches when it's time for a snack. If Scarlet wanted to nap, Igor wanted to dance.

'If Igor wanted to read, Scarlet wanted to sing. 'The trouble was, they could never agree on anything.' In the first chapter, the two friends' interests rarely mesh. Starred Review: Kirkus Reviews Vampire Scarlet and mummy Igor are very good friends.

Spooky Friends by Jane Feder