Creepy Carrots! By Aaron Reynolds

 Reynolds, Aaron. 2012. Creepy Carrots!. Ill by Peter Brown. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 978-1-4424-0297-3
 

Jasper Rabbit is an average, carrot loving bunny who finds a wild field of carrots in Crackenhopper Field. Each day he helps himself to several snacks of his favorite food from the wild field, never “get[ing] enough carrots,” until one fateful day when the “creepy carrots” start to follow him. The “creepy carrots” show up in the bathroom, in the shed, in his bedroom, and in the street outside his house. They follow Jasper Rabbit “EVERYWHERE.” Jasper must find a way to get rid of this terrifying vegetable trio before they get rid of him for good.

Ryenolds' sparing text and ingenious story of a greedy bunny hunted by “creepy carrots” works hand in hand with Peter Brown's superb gray-scale illustrations, accented in the menacing color that can only be described as Carrot Orange. This masterful marriage between art and text build the tension of Jasper Rabbit's frightening predicament, bringing to mind the scarey fun of Halloween and old black and white horror films. This story is sure to get young listeners to sit on the edge of their seat, without being too scary, and delight readers of all ages with its surprise ending.

This books is a riotous and unexpected gem for Halloween and vegetable themed preschool story time programs. It is a great example of the suspense genre, without being too scary for young children to enjoy. The simple text and imaginative plot are fun for young listeners to engage with, as well as being a great way to enjoy the spirit of Halloween. This story lends itself well to dramatic readings and could even be performed by enthusiastic audience volunteers. It is a story kids will enjoy and ask for over and over again.