  | Princess in Black and the trick-or-treating trouble (Princess In Black) Author: Hale, Shannon | |
| Price: $21.88 | ||
Summary:
It's a dark and silly night, and Princess Magnolia is wearing her Princess in Black cape and mask over her clothes just enough to pass as a Halloween costume in a hurry. She can't wait to go trick-or-treating! This year, Princess in Black costumes are popular, and so are monster disguises. When the little monster devours an onion, however, along with an eraser and a bar of soap and as he politely asks for a goat at each door, it's clear to Princess Magnolia that something isn't quite right.
| Added Entry - Personal Name: | Hale, Dean |
| Illustrator: | Pham, LeUyen |
Reviews:
School Library Journal (06/01/26)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 06/01/2026 Gr 1–3—The Hales return with a fizzy, Halloween-ready installment that leans into the series' signature blend of sincerity, slapstick, and low-stakes heroics. Princess Magnolia, who is white, longs to join the trick-or-treaters rather than stay home handing out caramel apples. Her wish is granted sooner than expected when a parade of costumed kids—one in an impressively monstrous getup—mistakes her partially donned disguise for a Halloween costume. Soon Magnolia is racing into the night, still wearing her pink ball gown under her hero cape, just as a real monster begins causing delightful mayhem. The narrative unfolds in brief, punchy chapters with controlled vocabulary and plenty of repetition to support emerging readers. Visual cues do heavy lifting: Pham's watercolor-and-ink illustrations brim with motion and good humor. Expressive close-ups and full-bleed spreads heighten both the silliness and the suspense as Magnolia toggles between princess and hero. The trio of trick-or-treaters she encounters appears to be varying shades of white, with one child depicted with a slightly darker skin tone. The monster's antics remain friendly rather than frightening, keeping the tone firmly in early reader comedy territory. Fans will enjoy another seasonal adventure with a beloved heroine, though newcomers may find stronger entry points elsewhere in the series. Still, this Halloween tale offers an inviting middle path between spooky and sweet, delivering a satisfying hero moment without overshadowing the joy of trick-or-treating. VERDICT A lively, Halloween-themed outing that will satisfy series fans and support emerging readers.—Rose Garrett - Copyright 2026 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
