How to Spook a Ghost (Magical Creatures and Crafts)

Gr 1-3--This brief story told in verse and cartoon scenes begins with four children, two Black and two white, busily pulling items from trunks to assemble costumes. One of them will be a ghost, and the emphasis is on getting ready. Once all the children are costumed, a quick visit to a decorated door leads to a brief scary moment and an encounter with a young friendly ghost who begs to go trick-or-treating with them. Deciding that the ghost is kind and shouldn't be left behind, they all go trick-or-treating together. The ghost has a final happy word: "I'm a lot like you." The scheme of the book follows that used by the author and illustrator in their "Magical Creatures and Crafts" series. The square volume sets the energetic, simply sketched figures and bits of Halloween decor against mostly white space in spreads. Text runs across at varied levels, with several scenes including a bottom corner framed bit of advice on creating a ghost costume. End materials include a history of Halloween over several pages and instructions for making ghost costumes and puppets. The quickly told, truncated story will seem cute to some adults, and the familiar contemporary comic look will be of momentary interest to children. The costume emphasis suggests its place on library shelves. VERDICT Practical seasonal material where more is needed.--Margaret Bush