The grumpy ghost upstairs

A bravely curious child's persistence helps a solitary spirit find connection in Shiotani's softly told story about overcoming fear. The narrative follows a conventional arc: in the attic, a little ghost lives "Alone. Just as he liked it." When the specter, who's afraid of leaving his space, ventures outside one night, he's spotted by a human child, portrayed with pale skin and dark hair, who resides one story below. After she begins frequenting the attic, the ghostly protagonist tries every trick possible to scare her off ("He lurked. He lingered. He dropped things"), finally slipping into the youth's bedroom to deliver a big "BOO!" Consistent with her previously displayed calm, the child's reaction is to suggest a daytime playdate, and the story wraps up with promising wisps of a friendship. Rendered in charcoal pencil, meticulous hand-drawn illustrations stick to a palette of grays, with spot pastel coloring suggesting the gradual brightening of the shade's mood and world. Ages 3--6. (Aug.)

A shy ghost lives alone in an attic and likes it that way. When a human visitor disturbs his peace, he tries to scare her off, to no avail -- but maybe, he finds, that's not such a bad thing. The story, smoothly translated from Japanese, offers readers and listeners the fun of realizing the ghost's true feelings before he does. Charcoal pencil illustrations make creative use of contrast: the glowing white and sometimes transparent ghost pops off the black-and-white and night-blue backgrounds, as do the pastel hues introduced by the moon and the little girl. (c) Copyright 2025. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

In this Japanese import, a ghost makes a friend--eventually. At first, the little ghost is content to live alone in an attic, enjoying his own company. When he decides to venture outside, a tan-skinned, dark-haired girl who bears some resemblance to Boo from the Pixar filmMonsters, Inc. spies him; she ends up seeking him out in the attic, much to his dismay. Alarmed at the intrusion, he tries, and fails, to scare her in scenes reminiscent of Mo Willems' Leonardo the Terrible Monster (2005). When he invades the child's bedroom, instead of being alarmed, she is delighted. Her warm welcome ("I hoped you would come and visit me") disarms the little ghost, who finds "that he [doesn't] feel so grumpy" anymore. Shiotani's illustrations are the real standouts here. The little ghost's depiction is particularly delightful--rather like an updated Casper, but with tiny legs and arms. This unusual portrayal, appendages and all, is just one element of the subtle visual humor that readers will enjoy as they pore over the setting and take in the characters' interactions. The muted, dark palette allows the whiteness of the little ghost to pop and results in a cozy, rather than frightening, tone. Nothing to boo here, and much to enjoy.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.