An adorably soothing introduction to the potential terrors of school.
Little Ghoul is nervous for her first day of school: What if everything is nice?
Her mother assures her little green daughter that everything and everyone will be perfectly awful. But when she wakes up, the weather is sunny and warm, not rainy and cold as she had hoped. The bus driver is smiling and kind instead of terrifying. The principal welcomes everyone with a smile. And it is all downhill from there: Nothing is as horrible as she had hoped. Finally, a boy actually shakes her hand and asks to be friends, sending Little Ghoul screaming. Thankfully, Little Ghoul wakes up to find that this awful experience was just a nightmare. As her mom sends her off, the weather is indeed cold and rainy. Her teacher is “hideous,” lunch is “repulsive,” and the librarian, the same creepy Ms. Shelley as in her dream, lets her know that “everything [will] be all right.” Little Ghoul’s fears, loves, and habits will induce many grossed-out giggles, and the story may serve as a clever anxiety-reducing tale for little ones who are nervous about starting school themselves. The illustrations are as entertaining as the text, adding a layer of humor with the reversal of what’s delightful and what’s fearful in the perspective of this oddly endearing little monster. The children and teachers in Little Ghoul’s nightmare are racially diverse humans; with the exception of Ms. Shelley, a woman of color, her waking reality is populated by (not-too-scary) monsters. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
An adorably soothing introduction to the potential terrors of school. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: June 15, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-06-244111-9
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Balzer + Bray/HarperCollins
Review Posted Online: May 18, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 1, 2021
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet.
A ghost longs to be scary, but none of the creepy personas she tries on fit.
Misty, a feline ghost with big green eyes and long whiskers, wants to be the frightening presence that her haunted house calls for, but sadly, she’s “too cute to be spooky.” She dons toilet paper to resemble a mummy, attempts to fly on a broom like a witch, and howls at the moon like a werewolf. Nothing works. She heads to a Halloween party dressed reluctantly as herself. When she arrives, her friends’ joyful screams reassure her that she’s great just as she is. Sadler’s message, though a familiar one, is delivered effectively in a charming, ghostly package. Misty truly is too precious to be frightening. Laberis depicts an endearingly spooky, all-animal cast—a frog witch, for instance, and a crocodilian mummy. Misty’s sidekick, a cheery little bat who lends support throughout, might be even more adorable than she is. Though Misty’s haunted house is filled with cobwebs and surrounded by jagged, leafless trees, the charming characters keep things from ever getting too frightening. The images will encourage lingering looks. Clearly, there’s plenty that makes Misty special just as she is—a takeaway that adults sharing the book with their little ones should be sure to drive home.
Too cute to be spooky indeed but most certainly sweet. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Aug. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9780593702901
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Random House
Review Posted Online: May 17, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily.
A group of young “dinosauruses” go out into the world on their own.
A fuchsia little Hugasaurus and her Pappysaur (both of whom resemble Triceratops) have never been apart before, but Hugasaurus happily heads off with lunchbox in hand and “wonder in her heart” to make new friends. The story has a first-day-of-school feeling, but Hugasaurus doesn’t end up in a formal school environment; rather, she finds herself on a playground with other little prehistoric creatures, though no teacher or adult seems to be around. At first, the new friends laugh and play. But Hugasaurus’ pals begin to squabble, and play comes to a halt. As she wonders what to do, a fuzzy platypus playmate asks some wise questions (“What…would your Pappy say to do? / What makes YOU feel better?”), and Hugasaurus decides to give everyone a hug—though she remembers to ask permission first. Slowly, good humor is restored and play begins anew with promises to be slow to anger and, in general, to help create a kinder world. Short rhyming verses occasionally use near rhyme but also include fun pairs like ripples and double-triples. Featuring cozy illustrations of brightly colored creatures, the tale sends a strong message about appropriate and inappropriate ways to resolve conflict, the final pages restating the lesson plainly in a refrain that could become a classroom motto. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
Gently models kindness and respect—positive behavior that can be applied daily. (Picture book. 4-6)Pub Date: Dec. 6, 2022
ISBN: 978-1-338-82869-6
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Orchard/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: Sept. 27, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 15, 2022
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