Pumpkin and Beetle: Super Secret Garden: (A Funny and Spooky Graphic Novel About Vampire Cats, Friendship, and Halloween Fun for Young Readers and Kids Ages 7-10) by Jannie Ho
ISBN: 0823459632
Genres: Animals, Holiday
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads

Though this is the second in a series, Pumpkin and Beetle: Super Secret Garden can be read as a standalone. The main characters, Pumpkin and Beetle, are vampire cats who are friends and love an adventure. They stumble across something mysterious in a treasure chest and decide to plant it; it soon turns into overgrown vines that are haunting the town. Readers in grades first through third will love this story of friendship, adventure, mystery, and a touch of suspense as the cats try to figure out what the vines are and how to stop them.

Teachers will appreciate that the engaging illustrations dominate the page and the text is limited, making it a good fit for early readers, especially those who like spooky or Halloween without any truly scary topics or events. Caregivers and science teachers will appreciate the non-fiction addition of how to plant a garden in the end material.

Readers will be charmed by Pumpkin and Beetle’s antics and dialogue and will look forward to more books in the series. This title would be a good fit for public or school libraries looking to expand their early reader graphic novel selection, especially those looking for spooky but not scary reads, those with a fun friendship theme, or books with action and adventure. This was a four-star read for me. Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner