Ghost Buddy

Henry Winkler, creator of Hank Zipzer, has begun another delightful series. In this first installment, Billy Broccoli is a short, smart "good kid," and these qualities make him unpopular with some of his classmates. When he moves to a new house, he soon discovers he's sharing his room with Hoover Porterhouse (the Hoove), a ghost. The Hoove coaches Billy on how to be tougher, more stylish, and, Billy hopes, more popular. When Billy and the Hoove learn an embarrassing secret about Billy's biggest tormentor, Billy is forced to make an important decision. In the closing, Winkler shares his experiences with dyslexia in a moving and helpful way for young listeners, parents, and teachers. S.G.B. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine