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The Halloween Tree Paperback – January 1, 2001

by Ray Bradbury (Author), Joseph Mugnaini (Illustrator)

3,204 ratings

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Make storytime a little spookier with fantasy master Ray Bradbury as he takes readers on a riveting trip though space and time to discover the true origins of Halloween.

Join the shadowy Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud as he takes eight trick-or-treaters on an unforgettable journey to find their missing friend, Pip. Travel through space and time, from the tombs of ancient Egypt to the gargoyles of Notre-Dame Cathedral, all the way to the cemeteries of Mexico on el Día de Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Is Pip still alive? And if so, can his friends save him from a ghastly fate before it’s too late?

"If you want to know what Halloween is, or if you simply want an eerie adventure, take this mystery history trip. You couldn't ask for better than master fantasizer Ray Bradbury." --The Boston Globe

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"A fast-moving, eerie...tale set on Halloween night. Eight costumed boys running to meet their friend Pipkin at the haunted house outside town encounter instead the huge and cadaverous Mr. Moundshroud. As Pipkin scrambles to join them, he is swept away by a dark Something, and Moundshroud leads the boys on the tail of a kite through time and space to search the past for their friend and the meaning of Halloween. After witnessing a funeral procession in ancient Egypt, cavemen discovering fire, Druid rites, the persecution of witches in the Dark Ages, and the gargoyles of Notre Dame, they catch up with the elusive Pipkin in the catacombs of Mexico, where each boy gives one year from the end of his life to save Pipkin's. Enhanced by appropriately haunting black-and-white drawings."--Booklist

From the Back Cover

-moving, eerie...tale set on Halloween night. Eight costumed boys running to meet their friend Pipkin at the haunted house outside town encounter instead the huge and cadaverous Mr. Moundshroud. As Pipkin scrambles to join them, he is swept away by a dark Something, and Moundshroud leads the boys on the tail of a kite through time and space to search the past for their friend and the meaning of Halloween. After witnessing a funeral procession in ancient Egypt, cavemen discovering fire, Druid rites, the persecution of witches in the Dark Ages, and the gargoyles of Notre Dame, they catch up with the elusive Pipkin in the catacombs of Mexico, where each boy gives one year from the end of his life to save Pipkin's. Enhanced by appropriately haunting black-and-white drawings."--Booklist

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yearling
Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2001
Edition ‏ : ‎ First Edition
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 160 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375803017
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375803017
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8+ years, from customers
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.19 x 0.36 x 7.56 inches
Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 800L

Best Sellers Rank: #32,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #235 in Teen & Young Adult Horror
- #1,135 in Teen & Young Adult Fantasy
- #1,960 in Teen & Young Adult Literature & Fiction

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3,204 ratings

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Ray Bradbury

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In a career spanning more than seventy years, Ray Bradbury, who died on June 5, 2012, at the age of 91, inspired generations of readers to dream, think, and create. A prolific author of hundreds of short stories and close to fifty books, as well as numerous poems, essays, operas, plays, teleplays, and screenplays, Bradbury was one of the most celebrated writers of our time. His groundbreaking works include Fahrenheit 451, The Martian Chronicles, The Illustrated Man, Dandelion Wine, and Something Wicked This Way Comes. He wrote the screen play for John Huston's classic film adaptation of Moby Dick, and was nominated for an Academy Award. He adapted sixty-five of his stories for television's The Ray Bradbury Theater, and won an Emmy for his teleplay of The Halloween Tree. He was the recipient of the 2000 National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, the 2004 National Medal of Arts, and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize Special Citation, among many honors.

Throughout his life, Bradbury liked to recount the story of meeting a carnival magician, Mr. Electrico, in 1932. At the end of his performance Electrico reached out to the twelve-year-old Bradbury, touched the boy with his sword, and commanded, "Live forever!" Bradbury later said, "I decided that was the greatest idea I had ever heard. I started writing every day. I never stopped."

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Customers love this book as a Halloween read, appreciating its descriptive prose and charming illustrations. The book is quick and easy to read, making it suitable for all ages, with one customer noting it's perfect for reading aloud to children. Moreover, they value its historical content, describing it as an amazing journey through time and space, and find it educational with good material for thought. However, the pacing receives mixed reviews, with some customers finding it weird.

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Story quality Prose quality Readability Art quality History Ages Information quality Pacing

177 customers mention "Story quality"175 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, finding it entertaining and fun to read, particularly around Halloween time.

"...First published in 1972, it is a classic tale to be enjoyed by young and old alike...." Read more

"...Tree by Ray Bradbury takes the reader on an incredible journey through the history of Halloween...." Read more

"...It’s not boring, it’s exciting, it’s smart, it’s nostalgic, it’s a story only Ray Bradbury could have written, and it’s a fantastic tale for this..." Read more

"...The Halloween Tree is an original, slightly creepy, entertaining story, which incorporates facts of the history behind the holiday...." Read more

92 customers mention "Prose quality"74 positive18 negative

Customers praise the prose of the book, finding it poetic and descriptive, with one customer noting its great story full of imagery.

"...Bradbury spins an imaginative and haunting tale of friendship and discovery in this remarkable book...." Read more

"...name Ray Bradbury, to me (and I’m certain many others) is synonymous with magical prose, unlimited imagination, nostalgia, a sense of wonder and awe..." Read more

"...Life and death." The Halloween Tree is an original, slightly creepy, entertaining story, which incorporates facts of the history behind the holiday...." Read more

"...from his gleeful menage of metaphors and onamonapia to his strong thematic sense, in a slim little book suitable for readers age “11 and up”...." Read more

32 customers mention "Readability"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and suitable for pretty much all ages, with one customer noting it's perfect for reading aloud.

"...'s unique description of events and surroundings is refreshing and easy to read...." Read more

"...So put on your mask and take the plunge. It will be a quick read. Surely, you won’t lose a year’s time reading this exciting ephemeral short story." Read more

"...So to sum up, a pretty good book to explain to young readers where Halloween comes from...." Read more

"...I think I’ll be rereading this each year – it’s short and quick enough to get through in less than an hour, and I feel it’s one of those stories..." Read more

25 customers mention "Art quality"25 positive0 negative

Customers praise the charming illustrations of the book, describing them as whimsical and an incredible sight.

"...Ray Bradbury's unique description of events and surroundings is refreshing and easy to read...." Read more

"...The boys arrive at the house to find an incredible sight: a giant tree filled with jack-o-lanterns, the Halloween Tree...." Read more

"...tree offers up the best of Bradbury, from his gleeful menage of metaphors and onamonapia to his strong thematic sense, in a slim little book..." Read more

"This is the first Bradbury book I have read. The cover art is very cool, I think that is my favorite part of the book...." Read more

23 customers mention "History"23 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's historical content, describing it as an amazing journey through time and space that visits different eras, with one customer noting how it touches upon the history behind traditions.

"...Mr. Moundshroud then takes the boys on an amazing journey through time and space, not only to learn the history of Halloween, but also to save their..." Read more

"...It’s not boring, it’s exciting, it’s smart, it’s nostalgic, it’s a story only Ray Bradbury could have written, and it’s a fantastic tale for this..." Read more

"...slightly creepy, entertaining story, which incorporates facts of the history behind the holiday...." Read more

"...This work takes readers on a wondrous journey through space and time to seek out the true meaning of that spookiest of holidays...." Read more

19 customers mention "Ages"19 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fantastic for all ages, particularly noting it is terrific for young readers, with one customer mentioning that kids and adults will fall under its spell.

"...The ending is good and it is a suitable book for children of all ages...." Read more

"...imagination, nostalgia, a sense of wonder and awe, and an adolescent view of the world that never forgets how joyous the years of our childhood are,..." Read more

"...Probably best previewed by parents due to mature themes and topics and appropriate for ages ten and up." Read more

"...There is just way to much going on. This book might be great for kids 10-13, granted I am much much older I thought this would be a really good..." Read more

12 customers mention "Information quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book educational and informative, with one customer noting how it forces readers to reflect on their own beliefs.

"...spins an imaginative and haunting tale of friendship and discovery in this remarkable book...." Read more

"...with magical prose, unlimited imagination, nostalgia, a sense of wonder and awe, and an adolescent view of the world that never forgets how joyous..." Read more

"...Most of all, I love how the novel forces us to reflect on our own beliefs and speculate upon why the autumn of the year has such a mystical quality...." Read more

"...’s writing style and forged on because I found the premise of the book interesting...." Read more

8 customers mention "Pacing"0 positive8 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book confusing and weird, with one customer noting it felt rushed at times.

"...The Halloween Tree is very descriptive, well-written and confusing as hell...." Read more

"...it just seemed like it jumped all over the place and my brain just couldn't follow along...." Read more

"...I enjoyed this a lot, although it felt a bit rushed at times...." Read more

"Strange, strange book but this was a great copy of a hard to find book." Read more

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Lisa Binion
A Classic Halloween Family Story
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2010
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Every Halloween Tom Skelton and 7 other boys would go trick-or-treating with Joe Pipkin. All of them are in their costumes playing in town when they realize that only 8 of them are present. Though their faces were all hidden by masks they knew who wasn't there. They could just tell he was missing. Joe Pipkin, the greatest boy who ever lived, the boy who never ever sat still was not with them.

The boys go to Pipkin's house. When he comes out, he is not his usual perky self. He tells his friends to go on, that he will meet them at the place of the Haunts. At a spooky house situated there, they meet Mr. Moundshroud and find his Halloween tree. Pipkin appears in the distance much later, but is whisked away from them by a dark something. Mr. Moundshroud takes them backwards on a journey through time and space to save their friend, Pipkin, from certain death and to learn the history and meaning of Halloween.

Part of their journey takes them through ancient Egypt, where they learned how death was part of everyday life, where Halloween seemed to take place each day.

The Grecian Isles are visited. There black molasses was painted on the doorposts so visiting ghosts would stick to them and not be able to come indoors.

They saw the festival of Samhain in England, as well as other festivals in different parts of Europe. In each place visited, their friend, Pipkin, would appear. All the time afraid that they will never see him again, they chase after him each time.

They chase him on to the Notre Dame in Paris, France, then on to Mexico. I'm not going to tell you how the story ends - that just wouldn't be right. There is no way that I could adequately convey to you just how unique this Halloween story is.

The ending is good and it is a suitable book for children of all ages. If one is easily scared, there is a slight chance it could be frightening, but only a slight chance. Only in one's imagination could the events in this story ever take place.

Each place they stop, creepy Mr. Moundshroud shares with the boys the unique customs surrounding death. Since Mr. Moundshroud represents death, he would know about every custom surrounding death at anytime in history.

The Halloween Tree was written by Ray Bradbury, a master of fantasy and science fiction. First published in 1972, it is a classic tale to be enjoyed by young and old alike.

I was surprised that I had never in my life heard of this tale, especially since I am such an avid reader. Ray Bradbury's unique description of events and surroundings is refreshing and easy to read. Families would enjoy reading the 145 pages of The Halloween Tree together.

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R. King Meeker
A Halloween Classic
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2008
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
"Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows' Eve. Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet. Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades. From kitchen windows drifted two pumpkin smells: gourds being cut, pies being baked."
-- The Halloween Tree, p. 4

Why do we dress up on Halloween? How did the tradition of trick-or-treating begin? Why are witches, skeletons and ghosts associated with Halloween? The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury takes the reader on an incredible journey through the history of Halloween.

It's Halloween night, and for 13-year-old Tom Skelton and his friends, it's the most exciting evening of the year. But when they meet up to go trick-or-treating together, they realize that one of their friends is missing - Joe Pipkin, "the greatest boy who ever lived." When they arrive at Pipkin's house, Pip emerges, his face deathly pale. He says that he's not feeling well but he'll catch up with his friends at a house at the edge of town.

The boys arrive at the house to find an incredible sight: a giant tree filled with jack-o-lanterns, the Halloween Tree. There they meet the mysterious Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud, the sinister yet genial owner of the home. When he questions the boys about the significance of their costumes, the boys, dressed as a Skeleton, Mummy, Witch, Ghost, Gargoyle, etc. all realize that they don't know the stories behind their Halloween costumes. Mr. Moundshroud offers to help them discover the history of All Hallows' Eve, but the boys know they have to wait for Pip. When Pip appears, his friends call to him, but as Pip approaches, he stumbles and vanishes into the darkness. Mr. Moundshroud then takes the boys on an amazing journey through time and space, not only to learn the history of Halloween, but also to save their dear friend, Pipkin.

Mr. Moundshroud takes them to ancient Egypt, England during the time of the Druids, Notre Dame in the Middle Ages, and finally to the cemeteries of Mexico for the Day of the Dead. At each magical stop, they learn something new about how the traditions of Halloween were shaped by different cultures across the centuries, culminating in the holiday we know today.

Bradbury spins an imaginative and haunting tale of friendship and discovery in this remarkable book. While The Halloween Tree was first published in 1972, my first exposure to the story came from the excellent Cartoon Network television special that aired in the 1990's. If the special is ever made available on DVD, I'll be first in line to purchase it. Until then, the book will be a treasured yearly tradition for me.

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KB
Bradbury
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2021
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
The title should say enough. This book is Bradbury.
The name Ray Bradbury, to me (and I’m certain many others) is synonymous with magical prose, unlimited imagination, nostalgia, a sense of wonder and awe, and an adolescent view of the world that never forgets how joyous the years of our childhood are, and how lucky each of us older readers is to have experienced our own magical years.
Bradbury. A man who weaves stories as if each word was a special ingredient to a recipe that would not quite be the same if it were replaced with another.
Bradbury. Who writes in some of the most unusual similes that I’ve ever read. Among his many gifts, this might be his biggest. Literally right this moment, I’m going to open my book. To page . . . 50: “Somewhere, a mummy dreamed, coughed in its sleep, unraveled a bandage, twitched its dusty tongue and turned over for another thousand year snooze.”
Let’s go to page . . . 66. “Darkness moved down the Mediterranean shores. From the tombs, like mist, the dead spirits wavered in soot and black plumes along the streets to be caught in the dark tar that smeared the porch sills. The wind mourned, as if telling the anguish of the trapped dead.”
Bradbury. The man can spin a sentence like no other.
I’ll be frank. This book was always going to be five stars. I love Halloween, and Autumn, and Bradbury is the best author for this season. Unless I found it unbearably boring or bad, this was destined to be five stars.
It’s not boring, it’s exciting, it’s smart, it’s nostalgic, it’s a story only Ray Bradbury could have written, and it’s a fantastic tale for this time of year. My one gripe is that a younger me didn’t first read this while in grade school.

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Fantastic Tale on the Origins of Halloween.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 24, 2014
Verified Purchase

Having never read a Ray Bradbury book before I had no idea what to expect, however I was not quite expecting this. This book is absolutely awesome.

One Halloween night, somewhere in the United States, Tom Skelton, a 13-year-old boy and 8 of his friends go out trick-or-treating for innocent fun and candy. Or so they thought. They approach an old mansion outside of which stands the strangest tree they have ever seen; a large skeletal looking thing that has pumpkins of all shapes and sizes growing on its branches, each lit from within. The owner of the house, Mr Moundshroud, comes out to meet them, and it is here that their wild adventures begin.

One of their friends suddenly disappears as if taken by some miracle force. They hear him crying out for help, and desperate to help him they turn to Mr Moundshroud who then takes them on the most strange journey they have ever taken; through time and in various lands he transports them to witness and learn how Halloween came about, how it is celebrated in each part of the world and why children go out trick-or-treating on Halloween night.

Each stop they make seems to have some significance to the costume that each individual boy is wearing; skeleton, witch, ghost, mummy, beggar, gargoyle and death! And each place they visit they see and hear their missing friend but always just out of reach.

The journey they take is exhilarating and yet terrifying, and in the end they are tested to see how much their missing friend’s life means to each of them.

They style of this story telling is in the third person and is written in an almost poetical and musical way. The way the story is told is quite unlike anything I have ever read before, and really is the most fantastic read.

It’s not too long, just over 100 pages, but it’ll have you wanting to read it again and again; it really is a quite remarkable book.

I am delighted to see that it is available as an audio book, and I see that it is available as a cartoon DVD, unfortunately only, it appears, on region 1.

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B
Love it ! ❤️🎃
Reviewed in Australia on December 15, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
If you enjoy Halloween and all that believes that comes with it you will enjoy this book. Very interesting and the drawings/pictures makes it even better

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Shirley Lopes
A árvore do halloween
Reviewed in Brazil on January 9, 2023
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
O livro é pequeno, ilustrado, e muito fofo, descreve uma amizade muito bonita e conta junto com o desenrolar da história as origens do halloween

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Carmen999
Muy curioso
Reviewed in Spain on December 18, 2012
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Me ha gustado bastante el relato. Mezcla la fantasía y la curiosidad de unos chavales para llevarnos en un viaje de una sola noche a los orígenes del mito de Halloween. También es un canto a esa amistad que sólo se forja en la niñez.

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Cliente Amazon
Un capolavoro. Da leggere in ogni scuola!
Reviewed in Italy on April 8, 2025
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Una storia tenerissima, sul valore dell'amicizia, che insegna ad affrontare la perdita. Se sei un maestro o una maestra, questo è il libro giusto da leggere tra settembre e novembre con la tua classe durante l'ora di narrativa!

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The Halloween Tree Paperback – January 1, 2001

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5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Halloween Family Story

5.0 out of 5 stars A Halloween Classic

5.0 out of 5 stars Bradbury

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Tale on the Origins of Halloween.

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it ! ❤️🎃

5.0 out of 5 stars A árvore do halloween

4.0 out of 5 stars Muy curioso

5.0 out of 5 stars Un capolavoro. Da leggere in ogni scuola!

A Classic Halloween Family Story

A Halloween Classic

Bradbury

Fantastic Tale on the Origins of Halloween.

Love it ! ❤️🎃

A árvore do halloween

Muy curioso

Un capolavoro. Da leggere in ogni scuola!