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When the Goblins Came Knocking

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Remembering the previous Halloween that was spent in fear and terror of the scary costumes, a small child eagerly anticipates dressing up and participating in the festivities of the present year.

24 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1995

1 person is currently reading
16 people want to read

About the author

Anna Grossnickle Hines

78 books6 followers

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5 stars
7 (11%)
4 stars
13 (20%)
3 stars
31 (49%)
2 stars
11 (17%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Adrianne Rosal.
1,386 reviews10 followers
September 24, 2019
Some people are afraid of Halloween. Read this cute story of how one little boy over came his fright of this wonderful holiday!!
Profile Image for Emily K..
177 reviews17 followers
October 27, 2020
Fun and cute with great illustrations. It's OK to be afraid! It's OK to grow and feel different than you did before.
Profile Image for Laurie.
879 reviews
February 7, 2014
Booklist (Vol. 92, No. 2 (September 15, 1995))
Ages 3-5. A little boy looks back on his experiences last Halloween, when he "was too scared to join in the fun," and declares that "this Halloween . . . I'm the scariest one." Hines' illustrations, designed for both Halloween veterans and children not yet ready to go trick-or-treating, show activity on both sides of the doorway. The black, nighttime backgrounds contrast nicely with the lighted interior of the house. The rhymes and pictures of the visitors depict the fun (and clearly mark the visitors as children in costumes) while still giving full coverage to the little boy's fears.


Horn Book (March, 1996)
A preschooler remembers "when the goblins came knocking" last Halloween and how he ran and hid from all the trick-or-treaters. But this year, he's "the scariest one!" and the final double-page spread shows him dressed as a fearless dinosaur. Hines's rhyming text is a useful tool for coaxing timid little ones into their costumes. The illustrations' black background appropriately conveys the enjoyable spookiness of the holiday.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Dawn Behrens.
Author 5 books2 followers
October 5, 2012
From the book: "Halloween can be frightening when you are small. Masks and costumes can scare, rather than delight. In irresistible verse, Anna Grossnickle Hines describes the narrator's memories of the terrors of last year--and his happy anticipation of this year's holiday."

This is a great book to read with 2-5 year-olds before Halloween. It will help them deal with seeing other children in costume when trick-or-treating and when children in costume come to the house for trick-or-treat. This also gives adults the opportunity to talk with little ones about overcoming fear. Plus, it's a great choice if your little one likes dragons.
Profile Image for Ina.
1,267 reviews14 followers
November 7, 2011
Written is rhyme, and touchingly illustrated this book captures the fear a very young child may experience on Halloween. A young boy tells the story of last Halloween when he was scared by all the ghosts, goblins, and monsters who trick-or-treated at his house. The little folks at my storytime nodded when asked if they had ever been scared by all the trick-or-treaters on Halloween and they shared a couple of their own stories. They also correctly guessed that this year would be different for the young boy and correctly predicted that this year he would be the scariest one on Halloween.
Profile Image for Samantha.
4,985 reviews60 followers
September 10, 2013
A child reminisces about how fearful he was of all the creatures that came trick-or-treating at his door last Halloween, but this year he has conquered his fears and is sure to scare them all!

I liked how this book looked at Halloween fears in young children. The rhyming text is almost poetic and is perfectly balanced by the colored pencil illustrations that are full of lyrical movement. PreK-2.
Profile Image for Randie D. Camp, M.S..
1,197 reviews
September 21, 2015
A little boy recalls how frightened he was last year when the pumpkins, ghosties, witches, ghoulies, monsters, and goblins came to his door. But this Halloween he is the scariest of them all!

This book can help a child understand and overcome their fears about Halloween, so that they can join in on the fun.
210 reviews
October 11, 2015
This would be a good story to read to a younger child to prepare them for Halloween as it deals with a young boy who was afraid of costumed children the previous year, but now he can join in the fun.
Profile Image for Kim.
908 reviews25 followers
October 31, 2012
quick Halloween story, useful in boosting the courage of Halloween first-timers

themes: bravery, costumes, Halloween, trick-or-treating
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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