The Little Ghost who Lost her Boo! product reviews

We are very very big readers in this house and all three of my children from Miss 10.5 to Master 6 love picture books. This may have something to do with me being a primary school teacher, but more to do with both my hubby and I seeing huge value and getting enjoyment from reading. Safe to say, the kids were super excited to see this "Ghost Story" arrive from KIWIreviews. Master 6 was first to have a read through, and from the look on his face, it was enjoyed immensely! He kept bringing the book over to show me different friends of the ghost and explain their noises!

This is a lovely book both inside and out, and in my opinion, reasonably priced. The story itself is done by Elaine Bickell and the illustrations are done Raymond McGrath, who my kids are familiar with from some monster books he has done. The Little Ghost book is aimed at ages 3-7 years, but honestly I think younger and older alike would find it a good read - I read it to my friends under two year old and my 10.5 year old read it with enjoyment also. Do not be worried that with a topic of ghosts, it is scary - you will not find it so - it is definitely charming over scary!

The story starts with Little Ghost losing her boo, and wanting to scare a camper, but not knowing where her sound has gone. Although her friends try to help, there is no point in her taking on their sound, she needs hers! Without telling you the whole story and ruining it - I loved the fact that as well as drawing readers in with sounds you cannot help but repeat, you are encouraged to shout out your own! It is beautifully and lyrically written and draws you in well. The illustrations are also wonderful, and reminicient of Kat Merewether - with so much attention and thought put into every single detail, while keeping Little Ghost simple and endearing. They also, like the rhyming nature of the book, draw you well and truly in. A few days after our first read of this book, I also overheard my three kids discussing Little Ghost and ideas from the book, so as well as the book itself inspiring the imagination - clearly the story leads them to tangents out from it.

I really liked this book and can absolutely see it being a repetitive read and one that I have already recommended to others as an interesting read for adults as well as children.

Miss 21 Months is fast becoming addicted to reading - she loves the time spent with her parents as they read with her and enjoy her wonderful reactions. She is a bright child who loves colour and sound, and will happily listen to stories over and over without becoming tired of them, echoing repeated words with great delight and mimicking animal and bird sounds as they occur. The Little Ghost Who Lost Her Boo! is the latest book that she has reviewed with me, and it is fun to watch the steady progress in her interactions with the text.

Poor Little Ghost has lost her boo, and is on a quest to find out where it might be. Her friends are only too willing to help, but although they all make similar sounds and are fine if she wants to borrow theirs, they are just not right. In the process, each of them makes his or her own unique sound - which Miss 21 Months echoed with gusto, much to everyone's delight! She was especially intrigued by Owl, and happily repeated the Whoo!-Whoo!-Whoo! over and over. She also loved the section of the book where the reader is challenged to help Little Ghost, and willingly contributed a beautiful big BOO as requested.

The layout of the book is quite magical. Raymond McGrath's graphics are evocative, reflecting the curves of the bush surrounds and the half-light of Little Ghost's twilight world - yet they are charming rather than scary, and as Miss 21 Months' reactions showed, are pitched at just the right level for a very young audience. The text is written in rhyme; this technique encourages little ones to join in, first with the last word in each line, and then with the entire text as they become more familiar with it - and heaven help the older reader who tries to skip a word once that milestone has been reached!

When left to leaf through the book on her own, Miss 21 Months kept returning to the pages with the large image of Little Ghost looking at the reader. She was fascinated by the way Little Ghost appeared to be staring at her as she asked for help, and was only too happy to stare back. This is a book that she will enjoy for a long time, and no doubt read to her little brother once he is old enough to join in too.