Knock! Knock! Knock! Who’s There?

A tubby brown bear’s sleep is interrupted by a knock at the door. “Booooooo! Boo! It’s cold outside. Let me in!” wails the unseen visitor. The bear assumes the worst, naturally, and a page turn reveals an (imagined) swoopy ghost with out­stretched arms, a mournful face, and ball-and-chain that is somehow affixed to its body. More knocks follow, and the bear envisions an ogre, wolf, and witch outside, too, allowing Goossens to give readers a little scare each time. The truth is far less frightening—or is it? Although the story is peppered with moments of worry and fear, Goossens’s paintings are on the friendly side, keeping the story’s potential for fright in check. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)