Recommended Reads

It isn't easy being the only ghost at Booniesville Elementary School. Poor Gordon looks a fright, and no one is brave enough to befriend him. Luckily, when his school has to be evacuated quickly, the young ghost rises to the occasion without worrying about what people will think; and teachers and students alike discover one should never judge a booo-k by its cover.

What happens when one little ghost wants to stand out?

All ghosts wear white sheets. That’s just what ghosts do. White sheets are good for haunting people, and they make the ghosts feel like part of one big family. But one little ghost named Roderic wants to wear something different. He tries all sorts of things: a bag, a rug, a boot. Can he find the right one for him? Find out in this colorful picture book from debut author-illustrator Violeta Noy.

A loveable, lonely ghost meets a buoyant new companion, proving that friendship is never truly out of reach.

Most of the time
no one noticed Ghost.

It isn’t always easy for a ghost to make friends; even a rosy-cheeked ghost with big glasses. Ghost lives in a noisy, diverse city where children play and laugh, and longs to join in. But most people look right through Ghost.

When a bright red balloon wanders Ghost’s way, the connection is instantaneous. Together they try everything Ghost had ever hoped to share with a friend. But when Ghost’s balloon gets lost, Ghost learns that when you’re looking for a friend, a friend might find you.
With A Friend for Ghost, Suzanne Kaufman, New York Times Bestselling illustrator of All Are Welcome, brings watercolors to life in an utterly charming tale about putting yourself out there and finding the ones who get you.

Miss Maggie McCullen has been the keeper for the Port Carrick lighthouse for many years. She has never missed a night, keeping the big light going. And while the people in Port Carrick are grateful to her, they worry about her lonely life at the lighthouse. But they don't know that she has her cat, Sailor Boy, for company. Because Sailor Boy is no ordinary cat. He's a ghost cat. He can make himself visible or invisible, especially when visitors come to call and he wants to be mischievous. But when a fierce storm comes and Miss Maggie needs special assistance, Sailor Boy proves his worth.

"Got ghosts? Then you've come to right book! Hugo is a ghost expert, and he can tell you exactly how to boot out your boo. After all, he got rid of his ghost, no problem! He knows everything there is to know about ghosts, he has the proper ghost-hunting equipment, and he can offer five handy tips to remove your ghost forever. But has Hugo really gotten rid of his ghost? And are ghosts really that scary? Would it be so bad to keep a ghost around? They might actually be good company if you just give them a chance ... A silly, laugh-out-loud graphic novel for very young readers that breaks the fourth wall. It's a lighthearted look at friendship and the meaning of true companionship. The relationship between Hugo and his ghost is irresistible. The reader watches Hugo deny his friendship with his ghost for the purpose of writing his Haunted Handbook about how to get rid of a ghost, until he finally succumbs and realizes the value of the camaraderie the two of them share."--

From a debut picture-book author and a #1 New York Times best-selling illustrator, a wry take on "Why did the chicken cross the road?” that gives a whole new meaning to “the Other Side.” Cock-a-doodle-BOO!

It’s punny. It’s spooky. It’s a meta picture book that puts a fresh spin on an old joke and elevates chicken comedy to ghastly new levels. A little spring chicken crosses the road but quickly gets flattened under a semitruck. The barnyard beasts who’ve gone before break the news: now that Chicken’s fried—dispatched to the Other Side—Chicken has a job, an unwanted job, as a noisy troublemaking ghost. This fowl may be weak in the beak, but Chicken knows that scaring people isn’t nice. There is such a thing as a friendly ghost, after all—isn’t there? Loaded with laughs and shivers, this Halloween-ready treat features ghoulishly funny art by the illustrator of the #1 New York Times best-selling Bad Seed series. Let the haunting begin!

No chickens were harmed in the making of this book.

Reader beware! This is the scariest book ever! Or so claims its melodramatic ghost narrator. You can go ahead and turn the page, but don't expect him to come with you. Anything might pop out of that black hole in the middle of the forest. What do you mean it's just a bunny? Well, it's probably a bunny with big fangs. Watch out, it's--picking pumpkins with its friends, you say? Actually, despite the ghost's scare-mongering, none of the animal characters in the illustrations seem scary at all. . . . What's up with that? Many delights, such as surprises after the page turn, an alarmist narrator, and punch lines to anticipate make this book a scream for both kids and parents.

A shy little ghost who’s new to the group has trouble fitting in — until his special talent comes to the fore.

Boo is new. And even if the other kids are welcoming, it can be scary being new, especially for a shy ghost who can’t play any of their games. (“You tagged me? Oh, sorry. I couldn’t feel it.”) Can Boo find a way to fit in and make friends with the rest of the group? From the creator of Rex Wrecks It! comes a funny story about feeling invisible — and finding a way to be seen and appreciated for who you are.

There was once a friendly ghost, by the name of Gus, who lived in an old house in the country. Mr. and Mrs. Scott and their twins, Susie and Sammy, lived there too during the summer. Then autumn came and the Scott family left. Which meant Gus had nothing to do but sit around.

One day, during a walk, he met Mouse, who was cold and hungry. "Come spend the winter at my house!" cried Gus.

Thus begins an unlikely but heartwarming friendship. First published in 1962, children have delighted in this story and other Gus the Ghost books for over fifty years. Seymour Fleishman's sweet, nostalgic illustrations bring Gus, the Scotts and Mouse to life.

Goldfish Ghost was born on the surface of the water in the bowl on a dresser in a boy’s room. The boy’s room was pleasant and familiar, but Goldfish Ghost wanted company, so he set out to find a friend.

He floats over the neighborhood, past the pier, and let the breeze carry him into town where he discovers that not many people pay attention to goldfish ghosts.

Off he floats, searching for the perfect home and the perfect friend

and then he hears a voice. . .

Bestselling author Lemony Snicket and illustrator Lisa Brown brings us a fresh and funny take on what happens after your favorite goldfish crosses over to the other side.

A Neal Porter Book