WAKE THE DEAD

After young Henry makes enough noise to "wake the dead," befuddled ghosts rise from the grave. They quietly haunt the library ("I expect dead silence!" carps a librarian) and the pool ("Man, that's one awesome dead man's float!" says a lifeguard). They can't R.I.P. with all the racket, so Henry throws a party to tire them out. One skeleton comically demonstrates the "Hokey Pokey" over an open grave. Kwas (Rumpus of Rhymes ) depicts the mute Day of the Dead spirits with asymmetrical eye sockets and compliant demeanors; her kinked ink line suggests a benign Charles Burns or Gris Grimly. Debut writer Harris grabs every opportunity for "dead" wordplay, and her comedy leaves all souls grateful. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)