The Elevator Ghost

by Glen Huser (Author) Stacy Innerst (Illustrator)

The Elevator Ghost
Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
When Carolina Giddle moves into the Blatchford Arms, no one knows what to make of her sequin-sprinkled sneakers and her trinket-crusted car. But the parents are happy there's a new babysitter around, and Carolina seems to have an uncanny ability to calm the most rambunctious child with her ghostly stories.
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Publishers Weekly

In episodic chapters that call to mind the quirky problem-solving of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, Huser (Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen) introduces Carolina Giddle, who drives into town on Halloween night and moves into #713 at the Blatchford Arms. Carolina's business card says it all: "Experienced babysitter, mah-jong instructor, and vegetarian caterer. Will do light housekeeping and seances upon request," and the Southern transplant uses the power of storytelling (ghost stories, in particular) to charm Blatchford's young residents. For unruly twins Dwight and Dwayne Fergus, a story about two boys who get on a skeleton's bad side after they steal its foot for a prank, is just enough to scare them straight; the tale of a mountain king who creates scary shadows helps timid Hubert Croop conquer his fear of the dark (along with the gift of a penlight). Although Huser's story is set in the present, the once-grand apartment setting, eccentric character names, and many candlelit storytelling sessions call to mind children's novels of yesteryear. Innerst's moody b&w illustrations make Carolina's eerie tales feel all the more real. Ages 8-11. Illustrator's agent: Susan Cohen, Writers House. (Aug.)

Copyright 2014 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Carolina Giddle is the new babysitter at the Blatchford Arms. Armed with ghost stories and snacks, she travels from apartment to apartment dispensing lighthearted spookiness and tasty snacks that calm and soothe the children of the building. Each chapter contains one short ghost story. The tales are relatively tame and are appropriate for readers new to the genre or those faint of heart rather than the true horror enthusiast. When readers are finally introduced to the ghost in the elevator, the result is less than spectacular.—Elizabeth Speer, Cisco College, TX

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

ALA/Booklist

These moderately scary stories should make great read-aloud sessions, making this perfect fare for Halloween.

Kirkus

This middle-grade spookfest from Governor General Award winner Huser promises goose bumps and chills.

Review quotes



Glen Huser
Glen Huser's novels include Touch of the Clown (shortlisted for the Mr. Christie's Book Award), Stitches (winner of the Governor General's Award) and Skinnybones and the Wrinkle Queen (nominated for the Governor General's Award and the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award). A former teacher-librarian in Edmonton, Glen has taught writing for children at the University of British Columbia. He recently explored his passion for musical theater in Time for Flowers, Time for Snow, a picture-book retelling of the myth of Demeter and Persephone (with a CD featuring a 180-voice children's chorus).

Stacy Innerst is an acclaimed artist and illustrator of children's books. His picture books have been awarded a BCCB Blue Ribbon Picture Book Award as well as a Parents' Choice Gold Medal and have been selected for recognition by the Society of Illustrators, the Smithsonian and the Junior Library Guild. Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) was named a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly. His paintings and prints have been exhibited widely in the US and abroad.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781554984268
Lexile Measure
800
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Groundwood Books
Publication date
August 01, 2014
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV002140 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Insects, Spiders, etc.
JUV017030 - Juvenile Fiction | Holidays & Celebrations | Halloween
JUV069000 - Juvenile Fiction | Ghost Stories
Library of Congress categories
Spiders
Ghosts
Ghost stories
Tarantulas
Elevators

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