Overview

Young Jorlyn's night of trick-or-treating reveals some shocking surprises right in her own Brooklyn neighborhood in this rhyming poem destined to become a holiday classic like Clement C. Moore's poem ""The Night Before Christmas."" Author's note: ""Once I imagined the story of young Jorlyn's adventure, I decided to describe it in rhyming verse. Why? Because rhyme is fun. Because rhyme is magical. Because everyone likes rhyme. (Or, at least, nobody doesn't like rhyme.) Both Robert Frost and John Lennon insisted on it. Rap depends on it. Children adore it. Rhyme enchants; rhyme soothes. Rhyme, despite its constant promise of a predictable pattern, perennially surprises and delights. I wrote ""'Twas Halloween Night"" with a mind towards how Dickens, in his great holiday story, makes sure both to comment on society and to suggest ways in which we, as its members, might make it better. Thus, Jorlyn's experience, like Scrooge's, leads her to a greater understanding of her human family and her responsibility to it. Years ago, when I first began working on the poem, I had in mind the need for my own little boy to be aware of, and sensitive to, the world around him. How was I to know that years later, that need--on his part as well as all of ours--would be greater than ever?""

Full Product Details

9798228296732

Table of Contents

Reviews

""A charming and fun tale, filled with rhymes that Stephen Sondheim would be proud of. I laughed out loud multiple times. A great, fun read!"" -- ""Michael Strauss, actor"" ""This poetic confection captures the charming colors, and especially the flavors, of kids trick-or-treating. But then it does more, poignantly reminding readers that true sweetness is in giving more than in getting."" -- ""Andrew Postman, author of Now I Know Everything""

Author Information

Geoffrey Owens was born and raised in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. He attended New York City public schools before attending Yale University, (from which he graduated, cum laude, in 1983). He has had a notable career as a teacher and an actor. He has taught Shakespeare and acting at Yale, NYU, Columbia, Pace, HB Studio, Stella Adler Studio, Primary Stages, and FSU. On television, he played 'Elvin' on NBC's The Cosby Show, as well as roles on numerous other shows, including It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Power, Ghost, All Rise, and Divorce. Geoffrey Owens was born and raised in the Prospect Heights section of Brooklyn, New York. He attended New York City public schools before attending Yale University, (from which he graduated, cum laude, in 1983). He has had a notable career as a teacher and an actor. He has taught Shakespeare and acting at Yale, NYU, Columbia, Pace, HB Studio, Stella Adler Studio, Primary Stages, and FSU. On television, he played 'Elvin' on NBC's The Cosby Show, as well as roles on numerous other shows, including It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Power, Ghost, All Rise, and Divorce.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available