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    The Children's Book Review

    Squashed: A Graphic Novel | Dedicated Review

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison2 Mins Read Ages 4-8 Ages 9-12 Author Showcase Best Kids Stories Graphic Novels Halloween Books
    Squashed A Graphic Novel Dedicated Review
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    Book Review of Squashed
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    The Children’s Book Review

    Squashed by Meghan Tosi: Book Cover

    Squashed

    Written and Illustrated by Meaghan Tosi

    Based on a Story by Thomas Tosi

    Ages 6-12 | 80 Pages

    Publisher: Dooney Press | ISBN-13: 9781954782051

    What to Expect: Halloween, family, spooky encounters, empathy.

    Told through comic-book panel illustrations in Meaghan Tosi’s wonderfully evocative artwork, Squashed is a story about fear and difference but also empathy, shared desires, and common interests.

    When a brother and sister find a mysterious group of scarecrows in the woods the night before Halloween, they should know better than to touch anything. But they can’t resist touching the pumpkin they find nearby on the ground, and when it starts shuddering, they decide to take it home. They make it a warm and comfortable bed and wait to see what will happen. However, that night, out in the woods, something wakes up. It wants to know where the pumpkin has gone, and it knows just where to start looking… what will happen to the kids when it finds them?

    In this graphic novel, Meaghan Tosi uses a color palette of muted autumn colors that suggest the warmth of autumn and the spookiness of Halloween, echoing the narrative’s emphasis on overcoming fear through shared experience by tempering spookiness with coziness. The minimal text makes this an excellent book for developing readers while encouraging strong readers to build their visual interpretative skills.

    Spooky (but not too spooky), Squashed is the perfect graphic novel for Halloween or any other time. Readers will fall for this spooktacular tale!

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    Meaghan Tosi: Author-Illustrator Headshot
    About the Author-Illustrator

    MEAGHAN TOSI, was born and raised in New Hampshire, earned a BFA from Laguna College of Art and Design, and illustrated this book and the middle-grade novel “Six Thousand Doughnuts” alongside author Thomas Tosi. She is also the author/illustrator of “Dweedy: The Imagined Adventures of My Deceased Cat.” She now lives with her partner Daniel and many plants in Portland, Oregon for the art scene, extraordinary hikes, and many neighborhood cats.

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    For more information, visit dooneypress.com.

    Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of Squashed: A Graphic Novel. Learn more about getting a book review …

    What to Read Next:

    1. The Weirn Books: Be Wary of the Silent Woods | Dedicated Review
    2. Squashed: A Graphic Novel | Book Spotlight
    3. 12 Kids’ Books for Halloween and Beyond
    4. A Very Scary Pumpkin: Nuggies: Book 3, by Jeff Minich | Dedicated Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    Dedicated Review Dooney Press Graphic Novel Graphic Novels Halloween Halloween Books Meaghan Tosi Pumpkin Spooky Thomas Tosi
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    Dr. Jen Harrison
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    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

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