Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers’ Favorite (5 Stars)

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Do you know what you’ll dress up as for Halloween? In Gitte Tamar’s A Queen on Halloween, Cleo is excited about her teacher’s announcement of the costume contest they’ll be having for Halloween. Cleo recalls all the fabulous characters she portrayed in previous years, like a superhero and a fluffy cat. She was good at choosing costumes and dressing the part. But now the pressure is on to be the best of the best. Her mother, noticing Cleo’s concern, gives some good words of advice: “Don’t worry about what other children say… that goes for Halloween or any other day. Stay true to yourself, and as long as you do, you will find you are loved for just being you." What do you think Cleo should be this Halloween?

Gitte Tamar’s picture book, A Queen on Halloween, is a simple story about more than just Halloween – it’s about being yourself and being proud of who you are. Told in simple language so young readers can easily follow along and improve their reading skills, this gem of a story will inspire young girls, especially, to shine at who they are. On the surface, this is a Halloween story, but deep down there is a powerful message for us all, a message about self-awareness, something young girls in particular need to accept. The illustrations by the author are interesting, though a little abstract. The plot follows Cleo as she leaves school with her mind full of excitement and concern, both of which she shares with her mother on the drive home. A great story.