A fun, ghostly spin on trading blending in for standing out.
A young ghost finds her spooky flair.
Mimi isn’t looking forward to her first day of haunting a new school. Per all the proverbs and rules for “good Chinese girl ghosts” that her ancestors preach, Mimi is dressed and styled quite traditionally, wearing “old Chinese gowns from her great-great-great-great-great-ghost-grandmother.” Her family doesn’t want her to emulate American ghosts. But “Mimi is American—Chinese American.” And the traditional “haunt couture” touted by her ancestors is “SO NOT GHOUL!” At school, Mimi feels she doesn’t fit in with her ghoulmates, who cruelly taunt her. How can Mimi be a fearsome and horrifying ghost if she sticks out? Full of ghostly puns, this is a playful look at identity, culture, and new-student blues. Though the narrative and antagonism between characters are resolved a little too neatly, readers will root for Mimi as she embraces her bicultural identity in her own way. She contradicts the idea that “good Chinese girl ghosts are not permitted to show their feelings” by loudly standing up for herself and against dominant norms by finding confidence in her ancestral gowns. Her family applauds in pride, and her ghoulmates are inspired to broaden their views. Lui’s digital illustrations are full of textures and layers, adding to the otherworldly motif. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A fun, ghostly spin on trading blending in for standing out. (Picture book. 5-8.)Pub Date: July 19, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-64567-557-0
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Page Street
Review Posted Online: April 26, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2022
Kid-friendly dark humor.
The chicken crosses the road…and arrives on the other side as a ghost.
The action kicks off before the title page when the chicken crossing the road winds up a splatter of feathers against the grille of a tractor trailer. When its ghost rises from the squished remains, it meets a host of other animal ghosts that encourage the new poultrygeist to start getting scary. They probably didn’t realize, however, that they’d be the ones to be frightened. Geron’s text is full of punny lines like “It’s time to get foul, fowl!” and “Ghosts of a feather haunt together!” Midway through, the poultrygeist turns to readers to make sure they’re not too scared. This is a nice touch, maintaining engagement while also giving more timid readers time to take a beat. Oswald’s illustrations display masterful use of color, with bright, ghostly animals against a dark, often all-black background, the dialogue shown in colors that correspond to the speakers. These ghosts do become scary but not enough to completely terrorize readers. Oswald’s skill is seen in full effect, as readers witness only the animal ghosts’ reactions to the poultrygeist’s scariest face, building suspense for the full reveal. This book is just right for kids easing into the slightly scary and macabre but who still want a safe and fun read.
Kid-friendly dark humor. (Picture book. 5-8)Pub Date: Aug. 17, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-5362-1050-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Candlewick
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2021
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gives “friend” a disquieting nuance.
On the spur of the moment, anyone can make a mistake.
In a twist on Eric Carle’s classic Do You Want to Be My Friend? (1971) and the many like-themed quests trailing in its wake, a suddenly friendless yellow monster makes the titular confession, mourns, and then goes in search of a new companion. Following a string of refusals that range from “No, you are too big,” and “No, you are too scary” (not to mention a terse “No”) to a terrifying, page filling “Rrrooar!” the monster begins to lose heart. Will it be lonely forever? But, no fears, a suitable (teal) candidate sidles up at last: “Hello! I will be your friend.” Cue the warm smiles and clasped paws…until a page turn reveals only the new arrival, guiltily admitting, “I just ate my friend.” Arranged in simple compositions and positioned for maximum comic effect, McKinnon’s monsters don’t look at all feral (although the protagonist does have a mouthful of sharp teeth, they are very tiny, commanding much less attention than its large, googly eyes and potato-shaped body), so the summary fate of the yellow one may come as a surprise (at least the first time through) to audiences who expect a more-conventional ending. Readers who prefer their comedy on the dark side à la Jon Klassen’s I Want My Hat Back (2011) or Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross’ Tadpole’s Promise (2005) will relish this alternative outcome.
Gives “friend” a disquieting nuance. (Picture book. 5-7)Pub Date: June 26, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-5344-1032-9
Page Count: 40
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Feb. 18, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2018
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