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
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among
Pete, the cat who couldn’t care less, celebrates Christmas with his inimitable lassitude.
If it weren’t part of the title and repeated on every other page, readers unfamiliar with Pete’s shtick might have a hard time arriving at “groovy” to describe his Christmas celebration, as the expressionless cat displays not a hint of groove in Dean’s now-trademark illustrations. Nor does Pete have a great sense of scansion: “On the first day of Christmas, / Pete gave to me… / A road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” The cat is shown at the wheel of a yellow microbus strung with garland and lights and with a star-topped tree tied to its roof. On the second day of Christmas Pete gives “me” (here depicted as a gray squirrel who gets on the bus) “2 fuzzy gloves, and a road trip to the sea. / GROOVY!” On the third day, he gives “me” (now a white cat who joins Pete and the squirrel) “3 yummy cupcakes,” etc. The “me” mentioned in the lyrics changes from day to day and gift to gift, with “4 far-out surfboards” (a frog), “5 onion rings” (crocodile), and “6 skateboards rolling” (a yellow bird that shares its skateboards with the white cat, the squirrel, the frog, and the crocodile while Pete drives on). Gifts and animals pile on until the microbus finally arrives at the seaside and readers are told yet again that it’s all “GROOVY!”
Pete’s fans might find it groovy; anyone else has plenty of other “12 Days of Christmas” variants to choose among . (Picture book. 4-8)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-06-267527-9
Page Count: 48
Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: Aug. 19, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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