Aggie and the Ghost

Poor Aggie. Just when she finds a house to live in all by herself, she discovers she's not alone after all. The house is haunted by a little ghost! And a very naughty ghost at that, who insists on breaking all of Aggie's rules. Matthew Forsythe’s Aggie and the Ghost will not disappoint anyone who loves the cute and supernatural. Everything about this lovely book is cozy, sweet and just a little spooky—the perfect combination for fall. Both approachable and silly, Forsythe’s expressive mixed media illustrations perfectly complement the story and give children plenty of exciting details to discuss. "No haunting after dark," one page says, paired with an adorable depiction of frustrated Aggie attempting to read in bed while her books, pencils and tea mug fly overhead. "No stealing my socks" is alongside an indelible image of the little ghost tottering around wearing every one of Aggie's purloined socks. Again and again, the narration leads the reader just far enough along, allowing the accompanying illustrations to fill in any gaps. This is a rare picture book that delights in the unexpected. Readers can let themselves be taken along for a storytelling ride as the little ghost refuses to be tamed, even after a dramatic game of tic-tac-toe (which ghosts are very good at and humans not so much). But when Aggie's rules prove to be too much for the ghost—after all, ghosts are not very good at following rules—he leaves. Aggie is finally alone, to her initial relief. But eventually, she begins to feel that something in her little home is missing. One can already hear the storytime giggles as the ghost breaks every rule, including the last one: "Don't ever visit me again."