Ghoulia (Book 1)

July 2, 2018
Ghoulia wants to blend in with other kids, but her appearance (greenish-gray skin, Ping-Pong ball eyes) and special talents (she can yank off and reattach her body parts at will) give her away—she’s “a perfectly normal zombie girl.” Living in Crumbling Manor at the edge of town, Ghoulia and her Auntie Departed fear discovery and subsequent banishment, so Ghoulia spends her time with her beloved albino greyhound, Tragedy. Still, she longs for friendship with other children, and when she learns about trick-or-treating, she sees her chance to mingle undetected. In a happy resolution, Ghoulia’s identity comes out (she can’t resist removing her head in front of the other kids), and her new friends accept and celebrate her unique qualities. Cantini’s detailed grayscale drawings ramp up the comedy on every page with labels and asides, including a page from Ghoulia’s Halloween-prep journal. This well-paced series opener will work well as both a read-aloud and a humorous choice for newly independent readers. Ages 6–8.

July 1, 2018

Gr 1-3-A zombie ventures forth to make friends in this illustrated beginning chapter book. Ghoulia lives with her Auntie Departed and her (mostly dead) extended family at Crumbling Manor. It's not entirely dull; ghostly Grandad Coffin enjoys a game of chess, and Uncle Misfortune's disembodied head is a chatterbox. Still, it's not the same as having friends, so Ghoulia plans a Halloween escape to infiltrate the nearby town's trick-or-treaters. With Uncle Misfortune's head as a goodie bag, she meets a group of costumed kids who seem willing to accept her, until her eagerness to impress threatens to expose her secret. It's a familiar story line, but Cantini's extensive illustrations are full of humorous details, and Ghoulia is expressive and charming in a Tim Burton kind of way. Unfortunately, the artwork alone provides most of the interest in terms of character and setting; the text, translated from Italian, is flat and uninspired. Additionally, while it's a short narrative with a limited number of sentences per page, the vocabulary will be challenging for many beginning readers. This is a good pick for younger children reading independently, and the smaller font size and appealing cartoon illustrations also make it an option for older readers in need of easier texts that don't appear too juvenile. VERDICT A likely hit with young fans of humorous horror, and a solid addition to larger collections in need of easy illustrated chapter books.-Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2018
A lonely zombie makes new friends just by being herself--on Halloween.Quelled by Auntie Departed's warnings, young Ghoulia has always confined her outdoor play to the walled grounds of Crumbling Manor...until she eavesdrops on some living children and learns about Halloween. Taking advantage of this perfect opportunity to fit in, she sneaks out with her albino greyhound (and gifted hairdresser), Tragedy, for some trick-or-treating. Hearing her name as "Julia," the costumed children welcome her. But when they compete to see who's the scariest, Ghoulia forgets herself and does her "special scary move," tossing her head in the air and catching it in one hand. The children stand wide-eyed through no fewer than three illustrations on three successive pages--and then welcome her with wild delight and agree to keep her secret from the grown-ups. From then on they become regular visitors to Crumbling Manor. In full-color pictures that take up all or most of every page, Cantini depicts her undead urchin Tim Burton-style, with stitched lips, gray skin, and purple shadows beneath huge eyeballs (everyone else appears white--or sheet white). Assisted by suggestive labels ("Creaky steps"; "A spider visiting from the attic"; "Painting of Grandad Coffin"), the manorial setting has an Addams Family vibe and provides just the right spooky setting for this series opener. Halloween-themed activities are included in the backmatter.Younger readers will wish that they could toss their heads...or at least that they knew someone who could. (Fantasy. 6-8)

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June 1, 2018
Grades 1-3 Ghoulia lives in Crumbling Manor with her aunt Departed and beloved albino greyhound, Tragedy. Like any kid, she wants a friend to play with, but, frustratingly, Aunt Departed has forbidden her from mingling with the village's children, simply because Ghoulia is a zombie. When she hears rumors of a costume-centric holiday called Halloween, she is convinced this is her chance to blend in with the other kids. On the preordained night, she and Tragedy slip away and join a group of trick-or-treaters, who welcome her (and admire her costume ), to her extreme delight. While Ghoulia's outing doesn't go off without a hitch, its resolution is highly satisfying, if slightly predictable. Cantini's new series is awash in shadowy mixed-media illustrations that will snag the attention of young Tim Burton fans. Charmingly morbid, the artwork is full of details and funny, handwritten labels that will keep beginning readers focused on the page. Youngsters will connect with Ghoulia's warm personality and the relatable challenge of making friends. This series starter is definitely a treat.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)