This story was really cute and sweet. I especially love the illustrations and the choice to use selective color. The orange really pops of the page and aside from being a color of both fall and Halloween adds some lovely contrast and focal points. This definitely feels intentional since the black (also a Halloween color) seems really reserved primarily being regulated to line art with a few small exceptions. There are other shades and tones in this book too but it's subtle. So 5 stars for the artwork for sure.

In my opinion, the style and type of story being told here feels appropriate for kids around age 5 and under. With that age range in mind, this story feels a bit long for the attention span of that developmental level. Both my children really enjoy(ed) reading at 5 but I think they may have gotten bored with this one around the halfway mark.

I also felt like the syllable and rhyme pattern was not as consistent as I wanted it to be for a kids book. Again, for the age range that this seems appropriate for, adding in syllables or settling for half rhymes could feel jarring for the kids who are anticipating something more specific. Writing in meter and rhyme in poetry for adults I think benefits from playing with the rhymes and meters, but I think for kids it's better to adhere to the chosen pattern as strictly as you can. I recognize the difficulty of this though and there was really only a few spots that seemed like it could have been improved so I'm not taking away too many points for it.

And one last comment on the intended audience is that there was definitely some vocabulary in here than some adults I know wouldn't have understood let alone a 5 year old. I wouldn't normally even mention it since I think exposing kids to complex vocabulary early is usually a good thing, but I also think it needs to come in really small doses. Maybe I'm saying that because in my experience reading to my kids, when we came across words they didn't know, they'd stop the story and ask, "Mom, what does obscene mean?" "What's a clinician?" "Supression? What is that?". (All real word examples from this book) And there were enough of those big words for a five year old that it would make reading this to a child fairly disruptive if they are the interrupty-type.

Another positive note to end things on: the idea of the spoops (and how cute they are) is something I could see every child in my life getting behind. A little magical, a little mischievous, a lot adorable. What a great concept to center a children's book around.

I'd recommend this to any kids or parents of kids who love Halloween and cute little Halloween creatures. I could also see this being a great home or classroom book to encourage kids to think of other fun parts of Halloween besides the candy.

Such an adorable Halloween graphic novel. I will say, I'm not obsessed with the way this is written. It's told in a very Dr. Seuss rhyming type of way, but the material and vocabulary make this lean more towards middle grade, and I just don't feel like MG readers would appreciate the poem-style of this. I think the story may have been more entertaining and engaging if told in a regular sentence structure.

I did find the illustrations super cute, though. Laurie Conley made this book feel so so SO nostalgic and I was eating it up. Feels so vintage and cozy.

A quick cute cozy holiday read for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and Top Shelf Productions for an advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are, as always, my very own.

I absolutely loved everything about this. The writing was wonderful - I'm assuming this is meant to be a poem with all the rhyming. It flowed so nicely. The black, white, and orange illustrations made me nostalgic for the Halloween of the 90s. I relate to Holly on a spiritual level - Halloween is my happy place, and it's the time of year that I feel most myself. The Spoops were so cute - I'd get every one of those little spirits tattooed on me!

This was a very sweet and heartwarming read! Perfect for fans of Halloween as well as anyone who just loves getting into the festive fall spirit. It's a very quick read to dive into and will keep you hooked from start to finish. Delve into these spooky and whimsical tales at your own enjoyment!

I adored this Halloween themed book. It has magic, character growth, fun, family bonds and just enough spooky spirits to make a reader excited to continue reading and for Halloween to come. I loved the illustrations as they harken back to the classic looking illustrations of the early to mid 1900s. Loved the use of rhyming in this book too as it’s a great introduction to a form of poetry. So glad I was able to get an ebook copy to review as I can see myself rereading this book whenever I miss Autumn or need cheering up.

I 💯 % loved every aspect of this book. Spoops has a great hook. It tells the story of a young girl named Holly whose favorite holiday makes her jolly. (It’s not Christmas!) However, she has never been able to fully enjoy it because her two parents are dentists, so Halloween is sentenced!

The story has a fun flow and is great for families of little children or big children too! The entire book is so perfectly illustrated that it reminds me of the nostalgia of my childhood reading books that were illustrated so similarly.

My favorite part of the book is from this quote, because it truly summarizes the power and magic of Halloween!

"It's the only time of year
When Spooky People can feel free!
No judgment! No more hiding!
Just be who you want to be!"

A special thank you to NetGalley for this e-ARC/DRC! And another special thank you to A.J. Locascio for his words on Instagram, and for Laurie A Conley’s remarkable artistry!

This was absolutely adorable! I love the art style, and the use of color, specifically orange, to highlight things throughout the story. The characters were absolutely adorable, and the art style very reminiscent of older children's books. As a Halloween lover myself, I really enjoyed the expression of all things that are part of the holiday. It's not just about candy and costumes, there's so much more to love, and I feel like this book showed that in an easily digestible, entertaining way. I will be reading this to my little one!

It’s a charming read that blends mystery, mild suspense, and just the right touch of creepiness—perfect for kicking off spooky season. With its quick pacing and intriguing premise, it sets the tone for autumn nights filled with curiosity, conspiracies, and a dash of the otherworldly.

This children's picture book is absolutely darling. 10-year-old Holly Hollowell absolutely adores Halloween, but her parents, both dentists, refuse to let her celebrate it due to the damage caused to teeth by the candy. When her parents attend a dental convention on Halloween night, Holly is forced to stay home alone in the dark. To cheer herself up, she carves a pumpkin, unknowingly summoning the Spoops in the process. The Spoops come in many forms, but they are all adorable little critters whose main purpose is to spread Halloween joy. Since Holly isn't allowed to leave, they bring Halloween to her! Holly has a magical evening. On their way home, Holly's parents encounter the Spoops and have a change of heart. They decide to let Holly celebrate the other parts of Halloween, just not those involving candy.

First, let me say that the illustrations in this are EVERYTHING. In the bio at the end it says that the illustrator's style is from a past era of children's books and that is absolutely correct. Her style has a very classic feel, reminiscent of Charlotte's Web, Little Bear, and Madeline. The story is told in poetic verse that is similar in style to Casey at the Bat, which I always enjoy. The plot itself is similar to the film Halloweentown (minus going against the mother's wishes and leaving with the grandma) with a dash of the fairy godmother from Cinderella. Additionally, I love that Holly's parents admit that they are not perfect and that they decide to let Holly celebrate something so important to her. I appreciate that Holly doesn't break her parents' rule about leaving the house. I also love that both parents are dentists, rather than her father being a dentist and her mother being a dental hygienist.

I cannot recommend this book enough for anyone with little kids in their life. Any child up to grade five or so would enjoy it, as Holly is 10 years old, the same age as fifth graders. I foresee this book becoming part of family Halloween traditions and being pulled off the shelf to be read aloud year after year.

I loved the nostalgic illustrations and think older kids who still enjoy being read to would love this--maybe 8 and up. Sweet story, and love the rhyme.

This story is the perfect little Halloween story! I loved the colors (black and orange) and the paired-down art style; it highlights the story and the overall Halloween/spooky feel of the story. This would be a wonderful gift for young readers or would be excellent for use in a classroom around spooky season!

Absolutely adored this one. This has some of the cutest illustrations I have seen for a halloween kids book. Definitely buying a copy for my nieces and nephews.

Holly is a big fan of the spooky season, but her dentist parents are strictly anti anything Halloween related. When given a wish, Holly is swept along a Halloween extravaganza led by the Spoops aka Halloween Spirits.

This was so cute! I loved the rhyming and the illustrations were great! I wanted more of the Spoops, especially since the book is named after them. I am a big fan of the spooky season, and really liked this story. It felt like a "Christmas spirit" vibe book, but for Halloween, where the parents were "Scrooges" but by the end got into the holiday spirit.

Definitely picking up a copy of this one for my godchild!
Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the ARC!

Definitely aimed as a kids book, I'm not entirely sure what age range it's geared specifically towards, but even as an adult, this was an adorable read and the rhyming was nice. The art style was fantastic and I appreciated which colors they very specifically chose to color and emphasize and which ones they chose to leave simply in black and white inked. I love the story and that they kept in line with the idea that this is aimed towards kids so didn't want to encourage anything bad, but still stayed true to the message. It was a lovely little story.

This is the cutest book I have ever read and I can’t wait to bring it into my classroom. I have never felt so nostalgic over something so new. My kids are going to eat this up and I know won’t be getting sick of it.

Thank you to IDW Publishing and NetGalley for access to the ARC of Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween.

This is one of the best new children’s books I’ve read in 2025! The illustrations immediately caught my eye with their charming vintage style and clever use of classic Halloween colors throughout. Visually, this book is a treat—warm, whimsical, and beautifully consistent in theme.

The story itself is absolutely delightful. It follows Holly, a spirited 9-year-old girl who wants to celebrate Halloween, despite her well-meaning but Halloween-hesitant parents (who happen to be dental professionals). I especially appreciated how the parents were portrayed—not as villains, but as loving and thoughtful. When they realize they may have been too rigid, they engage in an emotionally intelligent conversation with Holly and work together to find a way to celebrate as a family. This turn in the story offers a wonderful model for respectful, empathetic family communication.

The rhyming text is elevated yet accessible, with a smooth cadence that makes it a pleasure to read aloud. The story strikes the perfect balance—creative and fun without being scary, making it a fresh and original addition to Halloween literature.

I would recommend this book for children ages 4–10, as the vocabulary and length are well-suited to that range. Spoops is sure to become a Halloween classic in our home—and I imagine in many others as well. A delightful and heartwarming read!

The illustrations absolutely make this story. Conley's artwork has a wonderfully nostalgic feel that adults will love while also bringing the story to life in beautiful line work with pops of orange that kids will love. It's good that the art is such a standout because the writing fell somewhat flat. The rhyme scheme didn't totally work for me and much of thw writing felt clunky. The story itself is really cute. It felt like the rhyming was trying a bit too hard to live up to an almost "Twas The Night Before Christmas" style story for Halloween which I think it could've done without. If you can get past that, though, the artwork and plot are worth it.

I needed something to get me excited about Halloween and this book was certainly it. Guaranteed to whip your little ones into Halloween shape, all ready to enjoy the best season of the year. Filled with spooky goodness.

Beautiful illustrations and whimsical storyline.
If you're a fan of Halloween season and looking for a heartwarming read for your young ones this is perfect.

Cute! Reminded me of those seasonal books teachers would read to us as kids. Not a new favorite but if you’re really into the concept, it will probably scratch your Halloween itch.