Ready, Steady, Ghost!

In a story first published in the U.K., Gilbert, a nervous blob of a ghost, has trepidations about going haunting— because he’s on the small side, he’s looking for “a homey house to haunt, a cozy house, a little house!” While roaming an eerie forest, what Gilbert thinks are two glowing windows are actually “eyes that belong to a big, gobble-me... wolf!” Other frightening encounters follow, and eventually Gilbert makes his way to the attic of an ominous castle, where he meets a doll king and queen who rule their own tiny castle—just the right size for Gilbert to haunt. Baguley’s suspense-driven page turns and Lindsay’s pale blue forest create a just-scary-enough journey for Gilbert (and readers). The cozy shades of orange that suffuse his attic destination conjure a real sense of comfort and relief as Gilbert finds a new home that’s “homier than homey and cozier than cozy.” Ages 3–5. (Aug.)