©2006 reviewed by Fiona Broome and the Hollow Hill Staff
If your young family loves Halloween, you'll want to own
Country Living Handmade Halloween: Ideas for a Happy, Haunted Celebration
Country Living magazine sets a high standard for its books, and this one does not disappoint. It
also fills an important niche.
From cover to cover, this book is filled with easy projects that children can enjoy. Especially if your
children (or grandchildren) are very young, this book includes Halloween projects that will delight them.
Some ideas--such as tissue paper ghosts--aren't terribly original, but they're often overlooked
in favor of more ornate and complex designs. Sometimes, simple classics are the best choice.
Other projects--such as skeleton luminarias and "spook-out" felt pillows--are impressive but easy enough to be a family
Halloween project.
The costume section offers some new approaches to classic favorites, including a devil, a fairy, Red Riding Hood,
a lion, and--of course--a witch. Even better, most of these Halloween costumes are simple to create. You can
easily personalize them to make
even a picky child happy.
The recipes are gourmet treats, and delightfully easy to make. Some of the most delicious-sounding recipes
include maple popcorn, sugar-and-spice almonds, pumpkin cheesecake, and sparkling spiced cranberry punch.
This book may not appeal to families with teens, but it's a must-own if you're celebrating Halloween with
toddlers and young children. You'll use this book to create memorable Halloween traditions
for many years to come.
