One Halloween night in a small town in Illionis, Tom Skeleton and his group of seven friends learn the origins of Halloween with the help of the mysterious Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud – a man who seems as old as Halloween itself. Mounshroud teaches the young boys the history of their costumes, the origins of trick or treating, and the ways many people celebrated and continue to celebrate Halloween all around the world. However, the eight boys also spend the night chasing the spirit of their friend Pip, and are ultimately tasked with the decision of whether he lives or dies.
The Halloween Tree is a 140 page childrens book, written by Ray Bradbury with illustrations by Joe Mugnaini. This book was originally published in 1972, and I feel as though it perfectly encapsulates the nostalgia and joy of Halloween as a child. This book is a great light October read that can truly be enjoyed at any age and will get you in to the holiday spirit(s). Though it’s audience is mainly intended children, I found that at 23 years old this book still holds up. I enjoyed the characters and descriptions of the boys and their costumes, as well as the many different settings. The group travels from Illionis to Ancient Egypt, Greece, Medieval England, Paris, and Mexico. It’s whimsical and charming, while also historically accurate and all around spooky. Bradbury’s prose is poetic, especially in terms of describing the autumnal settings. I could feel his love for October, for Halloween, and childhood nostalgia pouring from the pages.
The only grievance I truly have is that I feel like this story went by too quickly. I felt like the boys/readers don’t spend enough time in each location to truly discuss and completely understand the history of Halloween in that culture. It felt like they only explained what people did to celebrate Halloween instead of truly explaining why and how these cultures and traditions effect how we view and celebrate Halloween today. Taking into consideration that this is a childrens book though, I can look past this. However, I found out that there is also a “writers edition” of the book, which is an edition that includes Bradbury’s original intentions for the story, which intrigues me and gives me hope that this edition allows the story and the history of Halloween recieve the attention that it deserves.
This book also talks about Ancient Egyption, Ancient Greek, and Ancient Roman cultures, as well as Celectic Druidism, the Notre Dame cathedral, and Día de los Muertos. These cultures and traditions are explained in a respectful way, and in terms that children can comprehend, understand, and relate to. I thought this story is a great Halloween tale, and a way to discuss the past and history of Halloween for all those who love the holiday.