Tommy Goes Trick-or-Treating by Emlyn Chand {Review & Book Tour}
Tommy Goes Trick-or-Treating
by Emlyn Chand
Review:
How did you teach your children about trick-or-treating? You know, it is a little strange that we teach our children about stranger danger and never to take candy from strangers, but then we take them out trick-or-treating where they are asking strangers for candy… That is not the point here, but yeah…
Did you know that birds are people watchers, just like people are bird watchers? Emlyn Chand’s Bird Brain books are teaching us that and we are having fun learning about new ones all the time! First, we read about my boy’s favorite bird, the penguin, with Courtney Saves Christmas, then we read about a peppy peacock named Poppy in Poppy the Proud. We introduced you to a funny superhero parakeet with Honey the Hero, and then we played with a Sherlock Holmes loving crow named Davey the Detective! Today, we’re talking about a curious little woodpecker named Tommy and his tricky friend, Michael, the raccoon!
Tommy is a funny little woodpecker who likes to watch what the humans are doing, but one day all the little humans come out dressed in costumes and he knows something is different. His friend, Michael the racoon, tells him that it is Halloween and the big humans are giving candy to the little humans. They decide to join in the fun!
When the two are not received well at the first house, they learn that there’s a secret code word – Trick-or-Treat – and that they need costumes. When even the costumes and code word aren’t working, they try a different tactic and end up with all of the candy from all of the houses AND from all of the children! What have they done?!
These two are thrilled with their haul, but they quickly learned that sharing is probably the better option on this special day. They try to make things better and vow to only be people watchers next year.
I am always looking for ways to teach my boy about sharing and about not taking things from others so this book really helps with that lesson. We don’t allow a lot of candy in the house, but this story also teaches him what happens when he does go overboard with the sweets! (and actually, my boy just threw out the last of his Halloween candy over the weekend, so I think we’re good)
Once again, Emlyn has written a fun story with a bird brain and found a way to put in a lesson. I think this story would be wonderful in a classroom of preschoolers where the children are sharing toys and blocks or cars. This is a great lesson in how it doesn’t always feel good when you have everything to yourself, especially when you got it by “hurting” others.
Tommy is a mischievous little woodpecker who loves to fly to the edge of the forest and watch the people in the nearby suburb. One evening, something strange and exciting happens—people emerge from their houses wearing costumes and carrying colorful buckets with smiling faces on them. What’s even crazier is that they shout a special codeword while standing outside of each house, and are given delicious-looking candy.
Tommy simply must join in the fun. He and his friend, Michael the raccoon, fashion their own costumes and head off to join in the festivities. Thanks to Tommy’s knock-knocking beak and Michael’s quick paws, the duo is able to heist many a candy bar from the unsuspecting homeowners and children.
But are they missing out on the true spirit of Halloween?
Emlyn Chand emerged from the womb with a fountain pen clutched in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm Novel Publicity. Best known for her Young Adult novels, she is also developing a small, but devoted, following to her children’s book series and is beginning to dapple in other genres as well. Emlyn enjoys connecting with readers and is available via almost every social media site in existence. Visit EmlynChand.com for more info.
♦ Emlyn’s website and blog ♦ Emlyn on Goodreads ♦
♦ Emlyn’s Facebook page ♦ @EmlynChand on Twitter ♦
More from Emlyn Chand
Available on Evolved Publishing:
The Bird Brain Books:
Honey the Hero ♦ Davey the Detective ♦ Poppy the Proud ♦ Tommy goes Trick-or-Treating ♦ Vicky Finds a Valentine
Torn Together
The Farsighted Series
Farsighted ♦ Open Heart ♦ Pitch (coming March 19, 2013) ♦ Vertigo (coming May 21, 2013) ♦ Refrain (coming December 2, 2013)
{Emlyn Chand – Children’s books on Amazon}
Oh my, I’m so behind in visiting all my wonderful Bird Brain Books reviews. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Tommy. I’m glad he could help teach that important lesson to your little one. As always, you are awesome <3
Em
Emlyn Chand recently posted..The Super Bowl Didn’t Suck (But It Almost Did): A His & Her Review
You are so sweet, Emlyn. Thank you!
What a great review!