Ghost in the House

Writing in peppy, evocative verse, Paquette introduces the amiable residents of a haunted house, starting with a bloblike blue ghost, who is frightened when he hears a groan--until he learns that it belongs to a friendly, egg-headed mummy. Next, the two find an overgrown mustard-yellow monster, and "a skeleton makes four in the house,/ In the creepy haunted house,/ On this dark, spooky night, cold and bleak." Record's digital cartoons playfully suggest that fear is in the eye of the beholder as ghost, mummy, monster, and a witch flee in terror at the sight of a human boy in striped pajamas. Ages 3-7. Author's agent: Erin Murphy, Erin Murphy Literary Agency. Illustrator's agent: Shannon Associates. (July)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--"There's a ghost in the house/In the creepy haunted house/On this dark, spooky night, all alone./And he goes slip-slide/With a swoop and a glide/Until suddenly he hears... a groan!" The next page reveals a skinny mummy with an egg-shaped head; together they prowl around the house until they find a monster. The group discovers a skeleton and then a witch. But the last creature they find is the most frightening of all: a boy! The discovery sends the five creatures running from the house in a panic as the child calls, "Good night!" At first, the ghost and his friends are worried about who they will meet around the next corner, but smile when they encounter another of their ilk. This cumulative counting story consists of full-spread, digital artwork that features nonthreatening creatures set against smudgy backgrounds that evoke the feeling of an old, abandoned house. The simple rhyme has a bouncy rhythm that would make this book an enjoyable read-aloud for a not-so-scary storytime. This slightly spooky tale does not mention Halloween, so it can be enjoyed year-round.--Martha Simpson, Stratford Library Association, CT

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In "Ghost in the House," Paquette succeeds at catching her readers off guard at the start. ... Adam Record gives his digital illustrations in this, his first picture book, a nicely scuffed-up appearance, as if rubbed with gritty charcoal, adding the illusion of texture and depth to otherwise familiar shapes. ... Though "Ghost in the House," like all the best counting books, is fundamentally simple in its architecture, Paquette and company mix the typical Halloween setting with a narrative that confounds expectations just enough to tickle readers' funny bones.
—The New York Times Online

Hair-raising and hilarious, Ghost in the House is a practically foolproof way to get kids counting. Paquette's simple yet effective rhymed verses give the little story momentumm while Adam Record's digital illustrations have a wonderful sense of texture. ... A true treat regardless of the season, Ghost in the House is a book readers will have fun with throughout the year.
—BookPage Children's Corner