Aggie and the Ghost by Matthew Forsythe

I thought today's read looks super adorable! A little kid with a ghost tag-a-long demands a second glance...if nothing else, it wakes the curiosity. I don't think this one really will qualify as a Halloween read, although ghosts work then, too (obviously). 

Let's just open it up and see what is inside.

AGGIE AND THE GHOST

by Matthew Forsythe

Paula Wiseman Books

Picture Book

64 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING...

AUGUST 19th!!!

From Matthew Forsythe, the creator of the acclaimed and beloved Pokko and the Drum, comes a surprising and pleasing picture book about rules. And sharing. And an epic game of tic-tac-toe.

Aggie is very excited to live on her own—until she finds out her new house is haunted. But no fear, the situation is nothing that can’t be fixed with a carefully considered list of No haunting after dark. No stealing socks. No eating all the food.

But the ghost doesn’t like playing by the rules and challenges Aggie to an epic game of tic-tac-toe—winner gets the house.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Ghosts, tic-tac-toe, rules, and cheese mix together to form an intriguing tale with an ending, which leaves with the last, odd twist.

Aggie is super excited to finally live on her own and even has her house prepared. But she didn't know about the ghost, who haunts it, and he's making things complicated. When enough is enough, she creates a list of rules for him to follow: no eating the cheese, no stealing socks, no haunting at night, and more. The ghost, however, is following any of the rules. Fed up, she heads outdoors to clear her head, but just when she thinks she's enough the peace and quite, the ghost hangs right next to her. Determined to put an end to the problem, she challenges him to a game of tic-tac-toe...and this leads to unexpected happenings.

This isn't a sweet book completely but takes on a hint of melancholy while weaving in a slight hint of humor. Aggie's excitement is palpable as she heads into her home by herself, and curiosity rises as the ghost cause little issues around her. Aggie's situation and frustration is very understandable...and yet, the reader can't help but sympathize a little with the ghost, too. And be frustrated with it. It creates an odd balance that works and draws in. The tic-tac-toe is a clever way to build tension with a nod of playfulness as the 'huge' contest unfolds...and it carries consequences. All of it stays very age appropriate and holds some important messaging, but not in the way a reader might expect.

The images bring over each scene with care and stick to the dimmer side...for the haunting, I guess. But these allow listeners to flip through the story on their own and enjoy the plot themselves. There are also enough little details to discover something new each time. The text is kept short and concise, and weaves nicely with the illustrations. It creates an engaging read-aloud for even more impatient listeners.

And the ending...well, it doesn't slide into the usual picture book style, which leaves a little food for thought.

And here he is...

Matthew Forsythe is the author-illustrator of Pokko and the Drum, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a recipient of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Honor, and a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. He is also an illustrator for animated films and television. His credits include Adventure Time, The Midnight Gospel, and Robin Robin, a stop-motion animated musical from Aardman Animations and Netflix. He lives in Los Angeles. Visit him at ComingUpforAir.net.