Heartwarming proof that friends can show up in unexpected places.
A shy boy tries to communicate with the neighborhood ghost.
There’s a ghost at 632 Savannah Street—but Gilbert seems to be the only one who’s aware of it. Gilbert’s family doesn’t believe him; they call him imaginative or decry the existence of ghosts entirely. But Gilbert thinks the ghost might feel as invisible as he does. He knows how difficult it is to make a friend. So Gilbert starts leaving gifts outside the old house. Day after day, they disappear—is the ghost taking them? While Gilbert’s family members offer rational explanations, the ghost’s continued engagement emboldens Gilbert, who leaves a note, which gets taken. He brings his best drawing and another note, then waits on the swing set across the street. A girl approaches him and keeps him company as he waits for an answer. Will the ghost ever come? Mason’s autumnal palette contributes to a spooky atmosphere, while illustrations from the (unseen) ghost’s perspective add to the gentle suspense. Overall, this tale is more sweet than scary and will be a surefire hit with readers looking for seasonal fun. Stigall’s tight structure cleverly builds intrigue while never explicitly revealing the ghost’s true identity. Even as contextual clues give readers a fuller picture of what’s really happening, Gilbert seems to maintain his belief in the supernatural—a beautifully child-centric touch. Gilbert, his family, and the girl are tan-skinned; supporting characters vary in skin tone.
Heartwarming proof that friends can show up in unexpected places. (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Aug. 19, 2025
ISBN: 9781506491493
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Beaming Books
Review Posted Online: May 3, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2025
Not enough tricks to make this a treat.
Another holiday title (How To Catch the Easter Bunny by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Elkerton, 2017) sticks to the popular series’ formula.
Rhyming four-line verses describe seven intrepid trick-or-treaters’ efforts to capture the witch haunting their Halloween. Rhyming roadblocks with toolbox is an acceptable stretch, but too often too many words or syllables in the lines throw off the cadence. Children familiar with earlier titles will recognize the traps set by the costume-clad kids—a pulley and box snare, a “Tunnel of Tricks.” Eventually they accept her invitation to “floss, bump, and boogie,” concluding “the dance party had hit the finale at last, / each dancing monster started to cheer! / There’s no doubt about it, we have to admit: / This witch threw the party of the year!” The kids are diverse, and their costumes are fanciful rather than scary—a unicorn, a dragon, a scarecrow, a red-haired child in a lab coat and bow tie, a wizard, and two space creatures. The monsters, goblins, ghosts, and jack-o'-lanterns, backgrounded by a turquoise and purple night sky, are sufficiently eerie. Still, there isn’t enough originality here to entice any but the most ardent fans of Halloween or the series. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Not enough tricks to make this a treat. (Picture book. 4-7)Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-72821-035-3
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Wonderland
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2022
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Only for dedicated fans of the series.
When a kid gets the part of the ninja master in the school play, it finally seems to be the right time to tackle the closet monster.
“I spot my monster right away. / He’s practicing his ROAR. / He almost scares me half to death, / but I won’t be scared anymore!” The monster is a large, fluffy poison-green beast with blue hands and feet and face and a fluffy blue-and-green–striped tail. The kid employs a “bag of tricks” to try to catch the monster: in it are a giant wind-up shark, two cans of silly string, and an elaborate cage-and-robot trap. This last works, but with an unexpected result: the monster looks sad. Turns out he was only scaring the boy to wake him up so they could be friends. The monster greets the boy in the usual monster way: he “rips a massive FART!!” that smells like strawberries and lime, and then they go to the monster’s house to meet his parents and play. The final two spreads show the duo getting ready for bed, which is a rather anticlimactic end to what has otherwise been a rambunctious tale. Elkerton’s bright illustrations have a TV-cartoon aesthetic, and his playful beast is never scary. The narrator is depicted with black eyes and hair and pale skin. Wallace’s limping verses are uninspired at best, and the scansion and meter are frequently off.
Only for dedicated fans of the series. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-4926-4894-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Review Posted Online: July 14, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2017
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