Illustration by Leane Morin
used by permission







                      Word Scramble
      (some may be two word answers)                          
                                 Answers
                                 
Unscramble these letters to form words from Priscilla and the Hollyhocks (witch, clown, princess, devil, Dimitrii, Anya, Dasha, Irina, Rumanski,  masks, Stefan, Bertuccis, America, Russia)

ITMIIRID, WOLNC, NAIRI, FENAST, CSIRCETUB, YAAN, KUSANRIMK, SCIPSENR, SAIRUS, CARMEIA, VLIDE, THCIW, HAADS, SKAMS



                          Coloring Page

Click here to view a coloring page from the book's artwork by Leane Morin.

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Story Detectives                    Answers
             

1) How do the front and back covers of the book show how Mama's attitude toward Halloween changes after she has gone trick-or-treating?

2) What symbols does the illustrator use to represent America and Russia?

3) What words or phrases does Anya use that show that English is not her first language?

4) What are the visual clues that Mama will end up wearing parts of the four children's costumes?
5) How are the various Halloween costumes illustrated in the book different from costumes American children wear today? How many different kinds of costumes can you find in the book? Would children today have similar costumes?

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                                                                Shy Mama's Mini Pumpkin Pies
Make SHY MAMA'S MINI PUMPKIN PIES.  A fun and easy recipe kids can do with minimal supervision.
Click here for the recipe.


Shy Mama Trivia: True or False?                                  Answers
1) Leane Morin used friends and family members as models when she painted the characters in Shy Mama's Halloween.
2) An immigrant is a person who comes to make a permanent home in a new country.
3) Pyervova Maya is a Russian celebration of summer that begins on June 21st.
4) Mama's name is Svetlana.
5) In addition to publishing books for children like Shy Mama's Halloween Tilbury House publishes books about Canadian history.
6) Halloween is a holiday that originated with Celtic people in Ireland, Scotland, and England.
7) Longtime friends Leane Morin and Anne Broyles worked together to complete Shy Mama's Halloween before submitting it to Tilbury House for publication.
8) Between 1892 and 1954, 12 million people passed through America's Ellis Island immigration center in the New York Harbor.
9) The Russian holiday of Vas'movo is celebrated on January 7th.
10) Leane Morin researched Halloween decorations and costumes in order to make her paintings accurate.
11) Papa knew English from his job in Russia.
12) Russian nesting dolls are made of cedar wood.
13) Anne Broyles has Russian ancestors.
14) Trick-or-treating originated with Laplanders.
15) Children at the time the story takes place were given more homemade treats and few packaged candies when they went trick-or-treating.