Before reading

Some adults just don't like children. Why do you think that is? What do you think are the big differences between adults and children?

What words come to mind when you think about Halloween? Think candy, ghosts, etc. Make a list on the board of at least fifteen words. Now, one student can try and explain one of the words without saying the word. The others can guess.

Now read the story and do the quiz. If you like, you can read the comic instead. Your teacher has it. It is a bit different to the story All Hallow's Eve. Can you find the differences?

Deep reading: test yourself and think

As you read the story, take the chapter quizzes to test your knowledge, comprehension and memory. Then think about or discuss the story in a deeper way.

1. How does the narrator feel about kids?

• A. Doesn't care
• B. Hates them
• C. Loves them
• D. Likes them

2. What does the narrator dress as?

• A. A clown
• B. A ghost
• C. Robin Hood
• D. A monster

3. What is the 'bad night score'?

• A. How many kids come
• B. How many kids scream
• C. How many kids cry
• D. How many kids laugh

Think: When it's not Halloween, what might the narrator use the board for?

4. What is the first kid dressed as?

• A. A ghost
• B. Dracula
• C. A zombie
• D. a clown

5. What does the narrator think about the girl dressed as a zombie?

• A. She looks good. Her parents must have helped
• B. She looks bad
• C. She is a real zombie
• D. She must love candy

6. How do the four kids feel about candy?

• A. They love it
• B. They want all of it
• C. They hate it
• D. They are not interested

7. How many people cried this Halloween?

• A. Three
• B. Four
• C. Five
• D. Eight

Think deep: Look closely at the final illustration. Have you seen counting like this before? It's called tally marks. Look online and see how it's used and where this way of counting comes from.

After reading

Think about what you would dress as on Halloween. Maybe you could draw a picture.

Reflect: Creative writing

Now try and turn the story into a very short story or poem.

Write down the main things that happen in the story. Now try and summarise each thing with one sentence or a couple of words. Read out what you have written to the class.

Sarah, the illustrator says...

I wanted to show what a tally board looks like. I thought maybe you wouldn't know. And I didn't want to draw the scary children. I wanted you to imagine them for yourselves. Do you think that was a good choice? Sometimes, I think, what you imagine can be better than a picture. That's the most important thing when you illustrate something. Choosing what to show, and choosing what to leave to the imagination.

Andy talks about writing the story (coming soon)

Quiz Answers

• 1. B
• 2. A
• 3. C
• 4. B
• 5. A
• 6. D
• 7. C