GHOST CATCHER

A brooding, intriguing tale about a shadowless man who ``could get close to ghosts without turning into one.'' One neighbor after another seeks his help when a beloved (whether dog or spouse) has died after being mistreated; Ghost Catcher walks over the hills toward the shadows and brings them back. Later, he sets off to the land of shadow on his own account, but finds it a frightening, lonely place. He weeps for his lost village; miraculously, he is home again, surrounded by the loving friends who have recalled him. Haseley's spare, poetic narrative recalls the deliberate cadence and implied significance of an enthralling campfire story. Bloom's arresting paintings center on richly expressive figures with marvelous eyes, glowing against dark, generalized landscapes of purple, brick, and magenta. (The setting and people seem to be Hispanic.) Resonant with potent symbols, a story whose power is magnified by its outstanding illustrations (and marred only by its cluttered title page). (Picture book. 7-12)