TRICK OR TREAT, ALISTAIR GRAYNow an animated short film featuring narration by Mister Sam Shearon.
Black Spot Books | September 13, 2022 In the style of Tim Burton’s THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS and Lemony Snicket’s THE DARK, after leaving a school carnival that feels more silly than spooky, a young boy learns about the true spirit of Halloween.
When Alistair Gray attends his school Halloween carnival, he is disappointed to see his favorite night of the year has turned more silly than scary—all treats and no tricks. But when he wanders alone into the dark the night before Hallow’s Eve, Alistair meets a spooky new friend that teaches him the holiday is about fun and of fright…and that there’s more than one way to celebrate Halloween. |
PRAISE FOR Trick or Treat, Alistair Gray
Honorable Mention, Purple Dragonfly Book Awards
1st Place, Little Peeps, Chanticleer International Book Awards
“Alistair Gray believes Halloween is a time for frightening monsters, not fairies and fun. So when the Halloween party he attends doesn’t live up to his expectations, the young boy mummy leaves to find the “real Halloween.” As he wanders around, a scarecrow interjects, pointing out that this is a night of contradictions, and that he should enjoy life’s activities. Just like the scarecrow does for the boy, Ryan and Gazdag invite readers to take up this perspective. With its rhyming cadence and spooky Tim Burton-esque illustrations, they acknowledge the holiday’s origins of warding off the supernatural. But they also remind readers that this is a time for fun. While the tone, pictorial descriptions, and atmospheric visuals have an eerie vibe, the boy himself looks and acts quite innocent. If read with the right voice, this will send enjoyable chills down the spine. Additionally, for those who like other mediums, this picture book is soon to be an animated short film. VERDICT An excellent edition for any Halloween collection, to pair with a lesson on the holiday’s origins or about managing expectations.” –School Library Journal
“The hypnotic rhyming text helps build the gothic atmosphere so crucial to the story’s presentation of traditional All-Hallows’ beliefs but also offers a soothing quality, underscoring the narrative’s message that night and death are nothing really to be frightened of. Notably, the narrative reminds readers about the duality of life and death, light and dark, joy and fright, encouraging them to live every moment to the fullest. Timea Gazdag’s dark, bold illustrations help readers literally see the value of the light that shines in the dark, contrasting moody backgrounds with flashes of color and illumination. Overall, Trick or Treat, Alistair Gray is spooky, thought-provoking, and beautifully produced—a true Halloween classic in the making.” –The Children’s Book Review
“A delightful blend of fantasy, revelation, and spooky encounters with a message in this study about changing interpretations of Halloween and horror.” –Midwest Book Review
“Lindy Ryan orchestrates an infectiously charming and hypnotic short film in embellishing Timea Gazdag and Dan Walter’s most unique style of captivating 2D animation, with Sam Shearon’s suave and sophisticated voice performance. Trick or Treat, Alistair Grey exhibits the highest-calibre of 2D animation with a most refined and unique imprint, Ryan opts to not deviate attention from the bewitching visuals through a narratorial script, slow-momentum, and trancelike tempo-rhythm, the results at times make this more a glorified audiobook and children’s lullaby, as opposed to a cinerama experience. Ryan’s results are magical and unique for a directorial debut; all we can ask of Ryan now is to work on a larger-scale canvas to push her team talent’s ambition and virtuosity. Trick or Treat, Alistair Grey showcases sensational emerging talent on the horizon. –Lonely Wolf Film Festival
“Beautifully illustrated, sparingly but all the more impressively animated film set to nicely flowing (yet not at all simplistic) poetry that’s rich on atmosphere and really oozes the creepiness identified with the holiday.” –SearchMyTrash.com
1st Place, Little Peeps, Chanticleer International Book Awards
“Alistair Gray believes Halloween is a time for frightening monsters, not fairies and fun. So when the Halloween party he attends doesn’t live up to his expectations, the young boy mummy leaves to find the “real Halloween.” As he wanders around, a scarecrow interjects, pointing out that this is a night of contradictions, and that he should enjoy life’s activities. Just like the scarecrow does for the boy, Ryan and Gazdag invite readers to take up this perspective. With its rhyming cadence and spooky Tim Burton-esque illustrations, they acknowledge the holiday’s origins of warding off the supernatural. But they also remind readers that this is a time for fun. While the tone, pictorial descriptions, and atmospheric visuals have an eerie vibe, the boy himself looks and acts quite innocent. If read with the right voice, this will send enjoyable chills down the spine. Additionally, for those who like other mediums, this picture book is soon to be an animated short film. VERDICT An excellent edition for any Halloween collection, to pair with a lesson on the holiday’s origins or about managing expectations.” –School Library Journal
“The hypnotic rhyming text helps build the gothic atmosphere so crucial to the story’s presentation of traditional All-Hallows’ beliefs but also offers a soothing quality, underscoring the narrative’s message that night and death are nothing really to be frightened of. Notably, the narrative reminds readers about the duality of life and death, light and dark, joy and fright, encouraging them to live every moment to the fullest. Timea Gazdag’s dark, bold illustrations help readers literally see the value of the light that shines in the dark, contrasting moody backgrounds with flashes of color and illumination. Overall, Trick or Treat, Alistair Gray is spooky, thought-provoking, and beautifully produced—a true Halloween classic in the making.” –The Children’s Book Review
“A delightful blend of fantasy, revelation, and spooky encounters with a message in this study about changing interpretations of Halloween and horror.” –Midwest Book Review
“Lindy Ryan orchestrates an infectiously charming and hypnotic short film in embellishing Timea Gazdag and Dan Walter’s most unique style of captivating 2D animation, with Sam Shearon’s suave and sophisticated voice performance. Trick or Treat, Alistair Grey exhibits the highest-calibre of 2D animation with a most refined and unique imprint, Ryan opts to not deviate attention from the bewitching visuals through a narratorial script, slow-momentum, and trancelike tempo-rhythm, the results at times make this more a glorified audiobook and children’s lullaby, as opposed to a cinerama experience. Ryan’s results are magical and unique for a directorial debut; all we can ask of Ryan now is to work on a larger-scale canvas to push her team talent’s ambition and virtuosity. Trick or Treat, Alistair Grey showcases sensational emerging talent on the horizon. –Lonely Wolf Film Festival
“Beautifully illustrated, sparingly but all the more impressively animated film set to nicely flowing (yet not at all simplistic) poetry that’s rich on atmosphere and really oozes the creepiness identified with the holiday.” –SearchMyTrash.com