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The Halloween

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K-Gr 4—In his second CD for children, New Orleans-based singer/songwriter Shad Weathersby has composed edgy music and written spooky lyrics to create a holiday listening alternative to screechy sound effects and silly Halloween songs. Opening with very creepy music fading in, the tension builds when wolves howl, eerie laughter unnerves, and a ghostly melody plays in the background as a Dracula-sounding host sings a song of greeting in "Welcome." Fourteen catchy tunes and poems will engage listeners. Highlights include "Monster Ball" (a soft rock story-song detailing what happens at the ball), "Jack O'Lantern's Day" (a ballad celebrating the process of finding the perfect pumpkin to decorate), "Spooky Old House" (a country-flavored description of bravery and the trick-or-treat experience), "Skellies" (country harmonies, a harmonica, and a children's chorus tell about skeletons), and "Far Away" (a haunting lament that Halloween is over). An excellent addition to Halloween lore.—Stephanie Bange, Wright State University, Dayton, OH
In this beautiful, heartrending, yet horrifying film, North Koreans tell their stories of imprisonment, sexual slavery, torture, murder, and escape to China or South Korea during the nearly 50-year regime of Kim Il Sung (1912—94). The interviews are illustrated through the interspersion of dance sequences, archival news footage, and drawings. Particularly interesting are the North Korean propaganda films celebrating Kim Il Sung as God and showing in the face of mass starvation happy workers, elaborate military displays, and the creation of a new flower in 1988 in honor of the 46th birthday of Kim's son and successor, Kim Jong Il. A valuable time line traces 20th-century events in Korea. Bonus features include previously unreleased footage of camp refugees. This mesmerizing film displays excellent production values and is highly recommended for Asia collections.—Kitty Chen Dean, formerly with Nassau Community Coll., Garden City, NY
Reviewed by Kitty Chen Dean , May 01, 2011

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