Sir Simon: Super Scarer

Sir Simon Spookington has haunted a boat, a bus stop, and a pizza pie, among other spots. His transfer to a new haunting residence, his first house, is complicated by the arrival of Chester, a brown-skinned child who is thrilled by Sir Simon’s presence and yearns to “be a ghost with you.” Simon ropes Chester into doing his varied haunting tasks by touting them as privileges, Tom Sawyer–style: “First chore, er, I mean activity, is spooky animal sounds!” But Chester isn’t so good at haunting, and Simon becomes uneasy about his trickery. Photographs in the boy’s room create empathy within Simon (“Looks like Chester gets transferred a lot, just like me”), and he repents the next day, offering to share Chester’s chores. Detailed art by Atkinson (Where Oliver Fits) mirrors the story’s energy through architectural cross-sections and explanatory diagrams. Part snarky comedy, part feel-good tale, the book offers enough laughs to be a solid readaloud, and its lack of scary moments makes it a good choice for kids who prefer their ghost stories scream-free. Ages 4–8. [em](Sept.) [/em]