Article content Because goblins, ghouls, ghosts and other creepy apparitions are omnipresent at Halloween, the books below could serve as a timely treat — one that’s sugar-free and won’t rot your child’s teeth. Into the Goblin Market By Vikki VanSickle Illustrated by Jensine Eckwall Tundra Books Ages 4 to 8 An homage of sorts to poet Christina Rossetti’s Goblin Market, which was published in 1862. Toronto’s Vikki VanSickle has written her own tale of two sisters who fall under the spell of “a wicked band of goblins” travelling from town to town, and does so in a way that makes the story accessible to even the very young.
Beautifully illustrated in black and white, with occasional touches of red, by Jensine Eckwall of Queens, N.Y., Into the Goblin Market is written in rhyme and introduces us to Millie and Mina, who live on a farm and do endless chores.
Millie is happy with her life, but Mina longs for excitement and sneaks out one night to visit the Goblin Market. Millie discovers her sister’s absence and sets off to bring her home (wearing a red hooded cape); when she encounters a wolf just inside the market gate, readers can be forgiven for thinking the story has turned into a well-known fairy tale. In truth, VanSickle’s text takes a more surprising turn.
Wicked goblins notwithstanding, the sisters triumph in the end and share a valuable lesson with the rest of us. Haunted Canada: Graphic Novel, Volume 1 By Joel A. Sutherland Illustrated by Hannah Barrett.