Ghost says meow! A Halloween story

PreS-Gr 3--An adorable and unique picture book for anyone looking to add some quirks to their Halloween collection. This story follows a ghost who dares to be different. All the typical spooky friends are there to create the perfect holiday atmosphere on a dark night--a witch, an owl, a skeleton, a cat, a pumpkin, a bat, and a ghost. But unlike her friends, this ghost wants to mix up the midnight mood with playful outfits and new sounds, like "Meow!" and "Ribbit!"At first, the traditional characters balk at the non-ghostly sounds, but the ghost encourages them to try new approaches to their haunts. As they experiment with different noises, they delight in the change. This would be an excellent book for an interactive storytime, particularly for a younger or more fearful audience. Illustrations are friendly and fun but also appropriate for the season--never overly cute. VERDICT A book to celebrate Halloween, while encouraging readers to consider whether they can stay true to their interests rather than simply following expectations.--Amelia Kmiec

Celebrating difference at Halloween. Beautifully designed, stylized images depict all the usual elements of fall: pumpkins, bare branches, changing leaves, tombstones, and a full moon. Large, contrast-colored, serif-font typeface announces autumn's arrival with a "crackle" and a "cackle." A pale-skinned, curly-haired witch in striped stockings laughs as she crosses the moon on her broom, and a big owl calls "Who, who." But instead of the anticipated rhyme, it's a shock: "Ghost says Meow!" Small, egg-shaped Ghost sports a succession of varied accessories. Initially, pointed ears and a striped tail whisper "Kitty," but then glasses and a mustache, cowboy boots and a hat, and other mini-disguises suggest mutable identities. The "meow!" poses a perplexing puzzle: Is that a cat under a sheet? To later prompts, Ghost responds, "Ribbit" and "Mooo." The skeleton, owl, black cat, bat, pumpkin, and witch cat object: On this night, anything but "boo" is "wrong." Ghost accepts "boo" but pleads for the unconventional: "Why not try out something new?" That's persuasive: The holiday crew decides to comply, with unpredictable expressions of other identities: "Beep," "woof," "howls" "growls," and "clanks," as Ghost concludes "Happy Halloween!" Black and orange are enlivened by unexpected touches of blue in this surprising take on pushing acceptable boundaries. A cheerful, delightfully different Halloween book.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.