About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is oscillating between the excitement of trick-or-treating and a growing anxiety about the 'real' spookiness of Halloween. It is an ideal bridge for children who feel they might be outgrowing purely cute holiday stories but aren't quite ready for genuine horror. By using a familiar, cynical, and comfortingly lazy protagonist, the story allows children to explore scary concepts like ghost pirates and dark nights from a safe distance. The story follows Garfield and Odie as they venture across a river in search of more candy, only to find themselves trapped in a haunted house with a terrifying legend. It explores themes of unexpected bravery and the strength found in friendship. Parents will appreciate how Garfield, who usually only cares about himself, must step up to protect his loyal dog friend, Odie. It is a perfect choice for teaching that feeling scared is natural, but loyalty can give you the courage to face your fears.
