| Halloween ABC | |
| Author: | Eve Merriam |
| Illustrator: | Lane Smith |
| Country: | USA |
| Language: | English |
| Genre: | Children's poetry |
| Publisher: | Macmillan |
| Release Date: | 1987 |
| Pages: | 28 (unnumbered) |
| Isbn: | 978-00-2766870-4 |
Halloween ABC is a book of poetry for children, written by Eve Merriam and illustrated by Lane Smith. It includes a poem related to a scary or Halloween related theme for each letter of the alphabet.
Kirkus Reviews calls it "elegant in design, precise in image, this is a sophisticated style that should be popular for its subject, with appeal for any age that enjoys the macabre side of Halloween".[1] Publishers Weekly describes the poems as "fresh, original creations" and "illustrator Smith is a perfect accomplice..."[2] The School Library Journal recommends Halloween ABC for children K and up, and states that: "This is not a book for young children to learn the alphabet, but it is a witty, whimsical, and happily shivery book for Halloween sharing. It is also a wonderful book for monster- and horror-loving youngsters at any time of the year and a diabolic way for poetry-loving adults to introduce the work of one of our best contemporary poets [...]"
Halloween ABC is on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000[3] as "it allegedly contains demonic references, cult symbols, and promotes violent and deviant behavior".[4]