A sweet look at childhood anxiety, taking the reader through a year in the main character's life as they worry about the approach to Halloween. It's a good representation of how anxiety can ebb and flow, and ways to help subdue it. It's also a great lesson of ways to cope when you are in an anxious situation, to find something to keep yourself occupied and feel helpful. Simple lessons can be applied to kids in many situations, not just Halloween.

Although Halloween has and probably always will be my favorite holiday, I can see this story being a great comfort for children who aren’t as enthusiastic about the season. The bright, perfect illustrations and playful rhymes make it both inviting and easy to enjoy, especially for young readers.

One thing I really liked was the set of tips at the end—they’re encouraging, practical, and full of gentle guidance. I almost wish a few had been incorporated into the plot so we could watch Kai put them into action. Still, the book offers a warm and reassuring message with plenty of value for families navigating seasonal fears. Overall a very cute and helpful story!

Thank you to NetGalley, the National Center for Youth Issues, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) Members’ Titles, and Allison Edwards for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was such a sweet book! I loved the illustrations, but really appreciated the premise of the book. Halloween can be scary for some kids and taking real actions to comfort them rather than push away their fears is so important.

Thank you so much to National Center for Youth Issues and Netgalley for the ebook to read and review.

Kai is scared of Halloween, it’s much too scary. He plans on making the whole thing go away. Each month he counts down until it arrives, hoping to forget, or hoping there will be no more Halloween, but it creeps up anyway leaving him scared and alone.

I liked the story it was really sweet, it captured fears and anxieties really well. Kai’s anxiety wouldn’t stop no matter what time of year, he didn’t stop thinking about Halloween, the fear, the feeling he gets when it arrives. The writer captured that perfectly, told in a lovely rhyming style which I enjoyed a lot. I also really liked that when he saw the sad pumpkin he found a way to fight his fears so he could use his kindness to help it.

I really liked the illustrations they were really sweet and showed the season through his eyes perfectly, all the parts he didn’t like, all the seasons that passed, how he tried to get rid of the approaching season and how Halloween followed him around.

I didn’t like how inconcderate and unfeeling the parents were, they seemed to ignore all his anxiety and fear and made him worse. They could have helped him slowly and gradually to include him with their activities, shown him the less scary areas of the season, but they didn’t. They seemed to either ignore him or give him bad looks as seen in the illustrations. It was so sad that they did that. It was honestly the part that I didn’t like as they didn’t care.

A lot of children get scared over this season, who can blame them when some people like to create the scariest things they can. I liked how the anxiety was addressed and how he managed to find a way to be less scared of the surroundings. I also liked that there was a little bit of information on other tips to help children struggling. I think it’s a great book for young ones to read before the spooky season does arrive as it can help them find a way through their fears and anxieties.

This beautifully illustrated picture book delivers a heartfelt yet gentle message about facing fears, told through the eyes of a child who dreads Halloween. The narrative follows a young protagonist counting down 364 days until the holiday they fear most, cleverly capturing the way anxiety can linger long before an event actually arrives. The author uses rhyming text with a lyrical, rhythmic flow that feels comforting and engaging, making it accessible for children while resonating with adults who have their own private fears. The language is simple but layered, offering both surface-level reassurance and deeper insight for those reading between the lines.

The illustrations are rich, warm, and expressive, with glowing colors that balance the spooky theme with a sense of safety and comfort. Soft lighting, whimsical character designs, and gentle facial expressions invite young readers into the story without overwhelming them. The pumpkin motif becomes a symbolic guide, representing courage, light, and hope—showing that even in moments of fear, there is a way to shine. These visuals perfectly complement the text’s tender encouragement.

Although designed for children, this book speaks universally to anyone who has ever avoided something out of fear. Adults will find themselves nodding along, recognizing how avoidance only prolongs anxiety and how small steps toward facing what scares us can lead to unexpected bravery. It doesn’t shame the character for being afraid; instead, it validates their feelings while gently guiding them toward a new perspective. This makes it an excellent tool for parents, teachers, and counselors to open conversations about fear, anxiety, and resilience in a safe and relatable way.

The tone is lighthearted without losing its emotional depth. There’s a subtle humor and self-awareness in the way fear is portrayed—never mocking, but slightly satirical toward how seriously we sometimes take our worries. It reminds readers, young and old, that fears often shrink when we approach them with light—both literal and metaphorical.

Overall, this is a warm, empathetic, and uplifting story that blends charming visuals with an empowering message. It’s a perfect read-aloud for families, an excellent resource for educators, and a comforting companion for any child (or adult) navigating their own “Halloween.”

This is a cute picturebook that can help kids who have anxiety about halloween deal with it better! The art style is gorgeous, complete with lush colors and an exquisite attention to detail. The tips at the end of the book that educate parents on ways to help alleviate their kid's fear is extremely useful and a valuable resource. Plus, even if a kid doesn't have the fear of halloween in particular, the story's emphasis on overcoming fears is applicable to any situation, and they're sure to feel inspired.

While the message of this book wouldn’t have applied to me as a child—Halloween was (and still is) my favorite holiday—I think it’s a fantastic read for children who may feel more hesitant about the season. The illustrations are vibrant and colorful, and the rhyming text makes it engaging and fun for young readers.

I especially appreciated the thoughtful tips provided at the end. They’re practical and encouraging, and I would have loved to see some of them woven into the story itself, showing Kai actively working through his fears. Overall, it’s a wonderful book with a very real, very helpful application.

Thank you to NetGalley, National Center for Youth Issues, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members’ Titles, and Allison Edwards for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book was absolutely adorable! Love the messaging behind it and also we loved the pictures. My 7 year old approves!

What the heck?!? I LOVED this story! I’ll definitely have to purchase this to read to my son as he gets older. This was such a beautiful story, the rhyming was awesome. Once I found out where this was going with the pumpkin light, I was like ahhh. That’s such a great way to explain it to kids who are nervous & scared. Such a cool story & having tips at the end was sweet.

The illustration was also beautiful.

Thank you NetGalley & Allison Edwards for the opportunity to read this story.

This was a sweet story about a child who fears Halloween
And eventually finds something to be excited about. He is able to find the light from the pumpkins as a source of comfort. The illustrations were beautiful. While I appreciated the concept, I still felt for the kid. Some kids are so scared and I don’t think they should be made to celebrate any holiday that makes they uncomfortable. But I’m glad it was a happy ending.

Thank you for the ARC. We love Halloween in this household.

This is a story about a child afraid of Halloween. It’s loaded with fun rhymes and goes through each month and the child prepares for Halloween. The illustrations are colorful and bright. My kiddo enjoyed this book.

Allison Edwards’ 364 Days Until Halloween is a sweet story that follows Kai, a child who’s nervous about Halloween, through the seasons leading up to the big day. With Jennifer Zivoin’s vibrant illustrations, the book gently reassures young readers that it’s okay to feel scared while showing the fun and magic Halloween can bring.

This book is ideal for ages 4–8, it’s a comforting, cozy read-aloud for families and classrooms that blends empathy with seasonal excitement.

Cute story that serves as a reminder, not everyone loves the spooky holiday.

Loved the helpful hints at the end of the book to help guide those that are scared and help parents navigate that fear. The illustrations were beautifully done.

364 Days Until Halloween is a story about a child who is afraid of Halloween and tries things throughout the year to make it so Halloween doesn't happen. The illustrations are colorful and show a lot of movement. There is also information at the end of the book about how to help kids who have worries like this. I would have liked to see more of these methods used throughout the story, but it was still a quick read aloud that could be used with younger kiddos.

Thanks to the National Center for Youth Issues and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Allison Edwards for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I read this to my twins in our 1000 unique books before kindergarten quest and they LOVED it! It is perfect for the toddler demographic, with big words, beautiful pictures, and a very informative and helpful message. We talked about why some kids are scared of Halloween and ways to help when we get scared. I loved the small details like the ghosts on the shirts as they were playing soccer. I loved how the book took you through every month and this kiddo is dreading the end of October- the art transforms beautifully in each month.

Thank you again, this was a fun read.
Valkyrie

Well, this is the most precious thing I've ever read and also perfectly explores the purpose of jack-o-lanterns. A great way to recontextualize some of the scariness back to silliness. I would highly recommend this!

364 days until halloween was such an adorable book that I got to read with my nephew. As a kid who grew up counting down to halloween with excitement, I've never thought some kids could be scared of it. I would definitely reccomend it. The illustrations were so well thought out and put together!

Thank you Netgalley, Allison Edwards, and Independent Book Publishers Association for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Loved this one! 🎃 The rhyming flows beautifully, and the idea is just brilliant - giving kids who get easily scared practical tools and gentle encouragement to handle all the Halloween excitement.

The little boy, maybe the youngest in the family or just one of the smaller siblings, doesn’t enjoy Halloween at all. In fact, he spends the whole year dreading it. Until, the night before, he finally finds the perfect idea: we all need to look for that special light that can calm our fears. Such a thoughtful, supportive read that turns spooky into fun.

A book with a purpose!

This book is absolutely adorable. Stunning graphics, perfect rhyming and a beautiful message for kids.
I read this with my own two kids and they loved it!
I think this book will be a wonderful tool for parents!

As someone who loves Halloween I was intrigued by the title. This book is the perfect book to serve as a reminder that not everyone loves Halloween and can be scary to children. This is a cute story for a child to is having anxiety about Halloween and also includes tips for parents and caregivers to make it easier to navigate.