K-Gr 3 From the first page, readers are sure to realize that this is one of those great spooky-funny books where they're laughing too hard to ever be really scared. Those familiar with Appalachian folklore will know the story of Wicked Jack, who accidentally does a nice turn for St. Peter and is given three wishes. Of course Jack, ' ... meaner than a rattlesnake, ' comes up with the ' ... sorriest wishes' St. Peter has ever heard. Jack ends up being rejected at the gates of Hell by the devil himself, which accounts for those mysterious lights in the swamp at night. Wooldridge's rhythmic phrases and colorful expressions read aloud particularly well. Hers is an assured voice, using a sly understatement that provides a terrific backdrop for the pictures done in graphite on paper with oil, oil pastels, ' ... and a smudge of the coal left over from the illustrator's jack-o'-lantern.' Children will especially love the slapstick humor: the text reads, 'After that, Jack got meaner than ever, ' and the pictures show him dropping hot coals down a neighbor's pants, then hoisting him up and shooting him with a slingshot. And Jack himself is priceless, a lumbering oaf with a massive body and ridiculously delicate little feet. Hillenbrand can create figures that will provoke a laugh just by being there. All in all, a book with surefire child appeal. Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL--SJ 12/00/1995 ****