In a pumpkin patch in south Chicago, a family of field mice is captured as main ingredients for a witch’s brew. When they fight back, the mayhem they cause results in the Great Chicago Fire–and the defeat of the last witch in the city.

This tongue-twister tall tale about how Halloween came to be is the latest picture book by writer/illustrator Peter J. Welling. Each of Mr. Welling’s books tells a story of a popular or lesser-known holiday or event and contains his signature multilayered writing and illustrations with puns and jokes embedded in the dialogue, descriptions, and drawings.

Welling’s combination of historical fact mixed with fanciful fiction offers a clever explanation for signature Halloween traditions like jack-o’-lanterns and trick-or-treating. Each page is full of surprising “cause and effect” examples that will have kids and parents alike wanting to know more about these real and imagined events. 

About the Author
An active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Peter J. Welling is the winner of the University of Indiana South Bend’s Distinguished Alumni award. His illustrations have been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and he is the recipient of the Publisher’s Choice Award for Exemplary Non-Fiction. He teaches writing and illustration courses for the Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Continuing Studies Program. This is his sixth picture book for Pelican.

DARLENE HALLOWEEN AND THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE
By Peter J. Welling
32 pp.  9 x 8½
29 color illus.  Ages 5+
ISBN: 1-58980-479-1
EAN: 978-1-58980-479-1