Boo!

August 16, 2010
A cherubic ghost practices being scary in this nearly wordless book with a glow-in-the-dark cover. Reading up on "scary things" like vampires and mummies, the ghost tries to approximate the creatures (using fans for bat wings and toilet paper for bandages), but no one is scared, not even Phantom, his one-eyed dog. Fenton's mostly black oil paintings are eerily highlighted with electric shades of blue, yellow, and green. While the action can be hard to follow, readers will catch the message, delivered in a twist ending, that being one's best—or scariest—means being oneself. Ages 3–6.

July 1, 2010
PreS-Gr 1—- little ghost tries on different disguises, hoping to scare his family. He turns to a book of "Scary Things" for inspiration, but his Frankenstein, Dracula, and Mummy impersonations all fail to elicit screams. Ironically, when he stumbles into a white sheet left on a clothesline, he finally gets his desired response. Aside from the ghost's determined shouts of "BOOO!," few words appear. The story cinematically comes to life through Fenton's detailed oil paintings. The not-so-scary goblins have enormous round heads with pinprick eyes and small wispy bodies that seem to float against the velvety black backgrounds. The striking design also features a glow-in-the-dark cover. Spooky fun.—"Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada"

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