Ava is bored. And when she’s bored – so is her elusive friend, Ghostie. And what do ghosts do when they’re bored?

They howl and screech! They float and flicker! And their absolute specialty? Slime!

Pets terrorised, bathrooms flooded, an indoor mud-pie mess – naughty Ghostie!

… or is it really Ghostie?

This eerie romp for little ones is a howl of a hoot – skittering along with humour and charm. 

A spattering of  onomatopoeia punctuates the pages, bringing ample opportunity for some screeching and howling – the perfect soundtrack to this kooky, bouncy tale. 

With just the right dose of spook for this age group, there’s plenty of cuteness, too. Mel Armstrong’s adorable illustrations are bright and textured, with plenty of characterised emotion, from frustration to joy to bottom-lip sadness.

Stephanie Owen Reeder’s text is pure fun. Punchy and full of movement, it gallops along with the onomatopoeia – winding, figuratively and literally, its way around Ava and her cheeky friend. Her short sentences and word choices show a deep understanding of the way children think and speak, and there’s plenty of narrative twists to keep kids engaged and anticipating the next round of action.

Based on the real-life shenanigans of Stephanie’s granddaughter, Ava, and her imaginary friend, this delightful book is something many children will relate to … and giggle over. Fabulous for kids who have an imaginary friend.

Title: Ghostie
Author: Stephanie Owen Reeder
Illustrator: Mel Armstrong
Publisher: Windy Hollow, $25.99
Publication Date: 1 March 2022
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9780645323511
For ages: 2 – 5
Type: Picture Book

June 15, 2022 at 12:50AM Tania McCartney