Frankenstein Doesn’t Wear Earmuffs is an overly silly story about over concerned parents possibly ruining the Halloween of one boy with an overly active imagination. Our narrator cannot wait to go out spookin’ and a’ scaring, as after all, he is Frankenstein. And Frankenstein does not need to wear earmuffs, a coat, have a fanny pack and take with them everything but the kitchen sink! Of course, narrator and reader realize quickly enough that there is always middle ground to make all parties involved happy.
John Loren’s illustrations show “reality'” and “imagination” with a break in the different styles of drawing. Reality is a bit more cartoonish and imagination is smooth and how we see ourselves in our imaginations. The colors are rich and bold. The rhyming text makes it pleasant for the younger reader to read solo (ages 5 to 8) or read aloud (most ages).
If there is any complaint about this sweet holiday story is that there is not a lot to the text. There is the usual silliness of the parents wanting to put the child in sweaters, earmuffs, send them off with a healthy snack and such, and of course the child not wanting such things, but that is it. The resolution to this Halloween tale is a compromise as the ghosts have warm hats and the werewolf has a lovely, warm sweater. But again, that is it. There is not a lot to sink one’s teeth into. Of course, the child listener or reader should enjoy as much as their second favorite piece of candy.