Even though it is October 29, it is actually just a coincidence that I’m discussing How to Scare a Mouse and Bear, a 2026 picture book by Ross Collins. It’s just the next book in the pile.
Despite this, this book is a pleasure in itself, and does a good job of playing with fear, something often attractive to kids.
The book starts with a declaration and a challenge: it is Halloween, and Bear says he’s going to scare Mouse. Mouse claims he won’t be scared.
Then, while Mouse is decorating, Bear shows up in a series of fun and sometimes funny costumes. For example, Bear first shows up dressed a vampire, so a bear who already has large teeth adds fake vampire fangs (and a nice cape). Mouse, however, sees through the vampire costume, the werewolf that follows, the ghost, a bear version of Frankenstein’s monster, and a bear witch,
Mouse is impressed when a “creepy monster” shows up, and is proud of Bear…until Bear emerges from the other side of the room, which means the thing at the door is a real monster…and the two friends race away in fear (and then tell stories about how they weren’t afraid at all).
This back and forth does a good job of orchestrating reader emotions, and the illustrations are very strong: the costumes are immediately recognizable, and nicely ridiculous.
