When Jasper is fraught with fear, his father helps him investigate different parts of the house. Crisp.” At times, the text of this book has a predictable pattern to it, which is important and helpful for young readers. Reynolds writes using rich, yet age appropriate text, with such constructions such as, “The carrots in Crackenhopper field were the best. This sense of suspense and foreboding is an elemental technique in horror, yet with Brown’s illustrations, it is spooky, yet appropriately so for children. The most entertaining parts of Brown’s illustrations are when Jasper begins to see the carrots harassing him, only to find that they are inanimate objects.

This use of gray functions seamlessly with Reynolds writing since it matches the spooky story. Lukehart (2012) points out that, “Brown’s panels…combine the mood of film noir with the lowtech look of early children’s television staging for an aesthetic that is atmospheric, but not overwhelming (p. This decision to make an essentially book in black and white evokes television from the time before it was in color. The reader is experiencing a black and white book, with the carrots themselves, that pop with life in bright orange. In Creepy Carrots!, and in the subsequent book to the series, Creepy Pair of Underwear!, illustrator Peter Brown uses shades of gray to evoke a spooky mood. Together, Brown and Reynolds merge their abilities together to spook young readers, while subtly offering a lesson in moderation.

Reynolds offers the reader a story that creates suspense. Illustrator Peter Brown creates a nostalgic, yet creepy atmosphere with his use of color and shadow. Are carrots seeking revenge for his glutinous appetite? How will it all end? Creepy Carrots, a 2013 Caldecott Honor Book, tells the story of Jasper Rabbit and follows him through his gluttony and eventual paranoia and fear. Then one day, Jasper starts to notice someone or something following him. What happens if you take more, much more than what you need? Jasper Rabbit loves carrots and he eats them all the time – on the way home, and more.

Spooky carrots book