The art style made me think of vintage Halloween style decor and the little Halloween fairies or spoops were so cute. The idea of dentist being ageist Halloween was funny but they learned how it not just about candy but the fun of the season. With pumpkins and family time. It was so cute. I might look into getting a copy soon.

I enjoyed reading Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween. This picture book by A.J. Locascio, with Laurie A. Conley’s nostalgic art, perfectly captures the magic of Halloween. The Spoops, tiny Halloween spirits, help Holly Hollowell show her parents that Halloween is about creativity, joy, and imagination, not just treats.

This book is ideal for ages 5–8 and it’s the kind of story you’ll want to reread every October.

This book was so cute! I loved the vintage Halloween illustration style, as well as the deeper theme behind the story. While lighthearted, the story still sends a thoughtful and meaningful message to young readers, as well as parents. I'm excited to buy this as a gift this fall!

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the ARC.
Thank you to A.J. LoCascio for going on your trip to find the Spoops in [REDACTED] New Jersey.
And thank you to Laurie A. Conley for bringing this beautiful world to life.

Rating: 5 stars

We have Holly, a ten-year-old that loves Halloween. Her parents, two dentists, do not share her excitement.
This book was a new exciting experience for me. The art was lovely and detailed, creating a cozy atmosphere from beginning to end. The writing was easy, not using complicated words that a child might not be able to understand or read.
The book had something magical in it because it transported me back to my childhood, and I loved every second of it. Sometimes every adult needs to think like a child again and relive the magic.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC. Spoops: The Little Halloween Spirits of Halloween is a charming Halloween story about celebrating Halloween. The fantastic art brought the story to life. As I was flipping the pages, I could feel Autumn and Halloween jumping off the page. The drawings are black, white and orange. The story is written in a rhyming format and placed strategically in the drawings. Each page has a vintage feel.

Holly loves Halloween; Her parents n0t so much. While stuck at home on her favorite holiday, Holly makes a wish which is sent to the spoops. They come to help. What are the spoops? You will have to read the story.

Spoops: The Little Halloween Spirits of Halloween is the perfect story for a chilly autumn night.

This book is weirdly religious using words like devout and sermon from a couple of dentists to disuade this child from anything Halloween. It was also marketed as a graphic novel/manga which it definitely is not. I love Halloween and cute children’s stories but given the history of the origin of the word spooky and the weird christian energy at the beginning this book was not it for me and I DNF’d

This was delightfully adorable! I loved the illustrations and the pops of Halloween colors! I would love to purchase this for my own child. This had a great message about accepting people for who they are and the things they love, even if you messed up and didn’t take the time to do it in the first place. It also sends the message that nobody’s perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing | Top Shelf Productions for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review.

Cute little book about a kid who loves Halloween but their parents won't let them celebrate it, and of course they live somewhere Halloween mad.
Have to say, I LOVED the spoops and even though we don't do Halloween in my country, I'd love a spoop!

This book was just the cutest read for a special Halloween treat!
This has set me up to get excited for the change of season and to look forward to all the Halloween decorations and sweets!
The story was lovely and the illustrations were gorgeous. They really brought the story to life! beautiful colours and detail that just had you imagining that Halloween was already here.
A fab read.

Many thanks to the Author,Illustrator and publisher through Netgalley for the ARC.
I enjoyed every minute of reading this book🎃

Book Review: Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween by A.J. LoCascio, Laurie Conley (illustrator)

Rating: 5 Stars

I absolutely loved Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween by A.J. Locascio, with Laurie Conley’s charming illustrations — it’s an instant five-star favorite for our Halloween shelf.

This book is pure Halloween magic. It imagines a hidden, cozy world of tiny creatures called Spoops who hatch from the smallest gourds in pumpkin patches each fall. They’re the ones who coax the leaves to turn, summon the crisp autumn breezes, and wake the playful ghosts that make the season feel so delightfully spooky. At the center of the story is Holly Hollowell, a little girl who adores everything Halloween — but her dentist parents aren’t fans of sugary celebrations, so Holly ends up sidelined as other kids go trick-or-treating. Enter the Spoops: their mischief and gentle magic help Holly show her parents that Halloween is really about imagination, self-expression, and the thrill of being a little spooky, not merely candy.

The verse is bouncy and memorable, evoking the sing-song charm of classic holiday rhymes without feeling derivative. The illustrations are a standout: a nostalgic palette of black, white, and orange gives the book an old-timey, cozy feel that’s perfect for October reading. The cover itself is delightful — it immediately sets the mood and makes you want to flip open the book and dive into that world of tiny, mischievous spirits.

What I found most endearing is how the story gently reframes Halloween as a celebration of creativity and joy rather than just treats. It’s playful and heartwarming, and kids will love spotting the Spoops throughout the pages. Adults who remember the fun of dressing up and being a little spooky will get a kick out of it too.

If you’re looking for a picture book that captures the whimsical spirit of Halloween and can be read aloud with gusto, Spoops is a perfect pick. Sweet, spooky, and utterly charming — this one’s going to be a seasonal repeat in our house.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Thank you to NetGalley, IDW Publishing and Top Shelf Productions for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated in a style reminiscent of classic children's books, this story is told in black and white with pops of orange and yellow, instantly giving it a Halloween feel.

We meet Holly, a young girl who loves all things spooky, but as the daughter of the town dentists she has never been allowed to participate in the celebration, which her parents believe is just about eating sweets.

Left alone on Halloween night Holly makes a wish. Soon the Spoops arrive to fulfill it! What follows is a magical story that is perfect to read as a family as part of your own Halloween traditions.

Book Review: 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕠𝕡𝕤
by: AJ LOCASCIO & LAURIE A. CONLEY

This was such a fun and delightfully spooky Halloween read! I shared Spoops with my six-year-old, who is currently in full Halloween obsession mode, and she was hooked from the very first page. The story follows Holly, a girl who lives for all things Halloween—but her parents… not so much. With a little help from the mysterious and mischievous Spoops, Holly’s parents begin to see the magic of the season through new eyes. It’s a charmingly eerie tale with just the right amount of spook, wrapped around a heartwarming reminder that even parents can make mistakes—and that sometimes, the spirit of Halloween can change everything.

An absolutely charming story not only about the joys of Halloween but also a family compromising and learning to understand each other's interests.

I love love LOVE the artwork that accompanies the story and would gladly buy a sticker book of all the Spoops and other drawings! To quote Marnie Piper of Halloweentown, "Halloween is cool."

This is the story, told in rhyme, of a girl who adores Halloween and her frustration about her parents not wanting to let her celebrate it. The illustrations are absolutely delightful - the type where you notice something new each time you look at them.
Fortunately for ours hero of the story, Holly Hollowell, stumbles on a solution. Hollowell magic ensues but will it work. Will Holly be able to fulfill her hearts desire and take part in the Halloween traditions?
Perfect for sharing with KS1 and Lower KS2 children during Halloween and autumn. Make this your end of day story and they will be sure to ask for it again.

Absolutely delightful. Spoops feels like a cozy, traditional Halloween tale with just the right mix of charm and spookiness. It stands out from many modern children's books by leaning into a more classic tone, which I loved. The story has real seasonal magic—perfect for fans of Over the Garden Wall. I truly hope this gets a beautifully illustrated hardback edition; it deserves a permanent spot on autumn bookshelves.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really liked it, stuck with me & would recommend
This was adorable! I too love Halloween and found the story so charming. I will definitely be gifting this book to my godkids. The illustrations are so cute, detailed, and lush. You can really spend a lot of time simply looking at each spread and see something different each time. I loved it!

Thank you to IDW Publishing, NetGalley, and author A.J. Locascio, for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. Spoops: The Little Spirits of Halloween is out August 12, 2025.

With fun and beautiful autumnal and Spooky (or Spoopy) illustrations as well as a poetic story, this graphic novel would make a great addition to any Halloween lover's collection. The story is fun and magical and also heartwarming.

I read with my 7 y/o and they are now obsessed with the Spoops.

Thank you to NetGalley, IDW, and the author and illustrator, etc. for letting me read this lovely e-ARC.

Sooo cute! I loved the designs of the little spoops. The dentists being against anything Halloween was a tad overdone, but the art and story was cute. Great for Halloween fans.

This was such a cute Halloween story. We're following Holly who loves everything about Halloween, but her parents are dentists, and they don't like Halloween and won't let her trick or treat. One Halloween night her parents are gone to attend a dental conference, so she decides she is going to celebrate by herself. She gets a pumpkin and carves it and puts a candle in it and sits it on the window and makes a wish that she could celebrate Halloween like all the other children. Then the Spoops appear and make her wish come true. They use their magic and give her the best Halloween ever and they also help her parents see that Halloween isn't just about eating candy. I love the message behind the story and the artwork has a retro 80s vibe and was so nostalgic for me. Super cute book!

Thank you to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. #SpoopsTheLittleSpiritsofHalloween #NetGalley

As an adult who adored Halloween picture books growing up, I was drawn to Spoops for its nostalgic black, white, and orange illustrations and it did not disappoint. The art is whimsical, warm, and full of that vintage Halloween magic that makes your inner child want to twirl in a costume.The story follows Holly Hollowell, a little girl who loves Halloween but whose dentist parents ban candy. Enter the Spoops tiny Halloween spirits who remind us that the holiday isn’t just about sweets, but about creativity, self expression, and spooky fun. it’s a heartfelt reminder of why this holiday means so much to so many of us.