ALA Booklist

Not everybody likes Halloween. Like many small children, Farmer Brown finds its sights and sounds downright terrifying. He copes by leaving a bowl of candy on the porch and a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on the door. But that night, someone creaks across his porch, swipes his candy, and hammers a "HALLOWEEN PARTY at the barn!" poster onto his door. Incensed, Farmer Brown investigates, only to discover that he has won an unexpected honor. A holiday-themed picture book in the series that began with the Caldecott Honor Book Click, Clack, Moo (2000), this sequel features many of the qualities that have made the books so popular: a concise text with a storyteller's sense of sound and rhythm, strong and expressive brush-and-watercolor illustrations that show up well from a distance, and Farmer Brown's push-pull relationship with Duck, his independent-minded antagonist. A somewhat spooky, decidedly droll read-aloud choice for October.

Horn Book

Halloween humbug Farmer Brown leaves candy on the porch and hangs a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on the door. After hearing strange noises outside, he trembles under the covers. However, we know that those Click, Clack, Moo party animals are hosting a Halloween bash. The well-paced text and appropriately shadowy illustrations assure listeners that the only foul thing afoot is a costumed fowl.

Kirkus Reviews

The barnyard animals love Halloween. Farmer Brown does not. Sounds like the perfect time for tricks and treats! Since Farmer Brown wants nothing to do with the scary holiday, "he leaves a bowl of candy on the porch….draws the shades and locks the door." Out in the barn, though, the party is just getting started. Saturated watercolors show Cow dressed as a skeleton, the chickens looking quite ghostly and the sheep donning witch hats. As field mice and cats arrive, creepy sounds begin. The "crunch, crunch, crunching" and the "creak, creak, creaking" lead to a "tap, tap, tapping." Hearing them, Farmer Brown peeks out his window to investigate. Readers will chuckle and easily recognize "the dark creature standing beneath the trees." The farmer, however, runs to his bedroom to pull the covers up over his head. Now the sounds repeat, as the figure comes closer. This time, though, the tapping is followed by a "quack, quack, quackle." Wait--"Quackle??" Farmer Brown goes out to the porch to find the candy bowl gone and a note on the door announcing, "Halloween Party at the barn!" The chorus of onomatopoeic phrases throughout the briskly paced text guarantees an interactive read-aloud, though fans of Duck's earlier outings will miss their satiric bite. Sweet and silly--good enough for Halloween. (Picture book. 3-6)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Farmer Brown has endured a lot in Cronin and Lewin-s Click, Clack, Moo series, and in this sixth book, he-s up against a holiday he hates, Halloween: -Witches give him nightmares. Pirates give him shivers.- He-s in the minority on the farm, though, as the sheep, mice, chickens, and more don costumes for a barn party. And who exactly is that -dark creature standing beneath the trees,- with a vampire cape and an orange bill? Cronin makes delicious use of onomatopoeia and repetition to generate eerie tension, and Lewin-s moonlit watercolors add just the right touch of spookiness. Ages 3-7. Agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties. (Aug.)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 1 Cronin and Lewin have teamed up again to bring Farmer Brown and his clever barnyard animals back for a Halloween read-aloud. Farmer Brown leaves a bowl of candy on the porch, locks up the house, puts up a "Do Not Disturb" sign, and prepares to sleep through the holiday, but his animals have other plans for the evening. The repeated use of onomatopoeia successfully sets the mood for a crunching, creaking, tapping-filled night as the man is kept awake by the noise. When he spies a dark, lurking figure through the window, he realizes that his animal friends are at it again. His candy has disappeared and a new note appears on his door-"Halloween Party at the Barn!" Lewin's broad, black lines and watercolor paintings add just the right amount of shadow and spookiness to complement the simple text, creating a story that is creepy enough for Halloween storyhours, but not enough to scare young listeners. Fans of this creative team's other barnyard adventures will not be surprised to learn the identity of the caped figure responsible for the revelry and will enjoy this Halloween treat. Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY