Thursday, January 1, 2015

Book Review: Spencer the Spider and the Witch in the Wood by Morgan Kostival

Spencer the Spider and the Witch in the Wood 
by Morgan Kostival


Paperback: 50 pages
Publisher: Picture Books by Morgan (September 13, 2013)
Amazon Paperback Link

Kindle Edition
File Size: 1193 KB
Print Length: 30 pages
Publisher: Picture Books by Morgan; First edition (September 10, 2013)
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Amazon Kindle Link

Note: I received a review copy of this book free from Morgan Kostival. The review posted below is based on my personal thoughts while reading the book.

Ratings: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

My kids (5 and 8 yrs old) love the story! At first they were hesitant in listening to the story as they are not into Halloween theme. The second time I read this to them, they loved it! My kids have at least 30 books (bought moooore this holiday) in the study table and if they liked one book, it would be in the bed. Just a week ago, for one whole week, my eldest kept on checking the book before we sleep. He loves it!

Mom, you might want to pick up this book for your kids! 

About the book:

It is All Hallows Eve and Spencer the spider suddenly realizes that he is no longer alone in his attic.

He is introduced to three enchanted toys and together they embark on a journey that leads them through an abandoned old house where they meet Rumsforth the rat, and a mischievous hobgoblin.

Later that same night, Spencer, and his newfound friends, find themselves deep in the middle of the dark and spooky woods that lie just behind that house. 

They are searching for the withered, old, green-faced witch that lives there, to ask for her help in ridding the house of its troublesome hobgoblin.

You will also get to see Spencer’s Halloween adventure documented through the dazzling photo illustrations by author/photographer Morgan Kostival.

About the author:

While most of his childhood friends enjoyed their teddy bears, Morgan Kostival was more partial to sword-wielding animated skeletons, and giant monsters of old Hollywood’s special effects. That is why Kostival decided to combine his love of that old art form with the new graphic arts techniques of today to illustrate his children's book. Kostival's process mimics the techniques of special effects artist Ray Harryhausen and other film pioneers of that time. He starts by actually creating the creatures for his story out of clay, plastic and other standard materials, like a master toymaker. Next, he photographs them against custom backgrounds, sometimes editing them into the picture using computer-aided tools. “The photo illustrations I create to accompany my stories do not tell the story by themselves. Instead they support the story and inspire a child’s desire to want to read and find out what is happening in the photographs.” Said Kostival, artist and author of the new children's book ‘Spencer The Spider And The Witch In The Wood’. “So my goal in all of this is to produce books that will fascinate and fuel kid’s imaginations no matter what their age.” Morgan Kostival holds a BA in Motion Picture Production from Point Park University, in Pittsburgh, PA. He has worked on numerous independent stage, film, and television productions as well as professional stage productions. He currently lives and writes in Lake Worth, FL.

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