Little Ghost's Summerween by Maggie Edkins Willis

A few days ago, I reviewed a book which would fit nicely to Halloween. Today, I'm stepping up the game and have a book, which celebrates Halloween during the summer! This is the second book in a series about these characters, and I reviewed the first one on here around two years ago (HERE) 

Since I found that one cute and fun, I was excited to get my hands on this second adventure.

So, off we go!

LITTLE GHOST'S SUMMERWEEN

by Maggie Edkins Willis

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

Little Ghost tries to pick the perfect party theme for his summer birthday in this charming picture book companion to Little Ghost Makes a Friend by bestselling author-illustrator Maggie Edkins Willis.

Little Ghost loves parties, but he’s only ever had the Halloween kind! After attending his first ever birthday party, Little Ghost decides to throw one of his own. His good friend Anya says his party should celebrate Little Ghost and what he likes most. That’s easy—Little Ghost loves Halloween with all its bats, black cats, candy corn, and pumpkins. There’s just one it’s summertime. And Halloween and summer just don’t mix…or do they?

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MY TIDBITS

The thrill of birthday parties meets sunshine, friendship, and spooky nods in a read perfect for Summer.

Little Ghost just received his very first invitation to a birthday party ever! He's always enjoyed Halloween parties, but now, that he has human friends, things are changing. And he's nervous. Luckily, his friend Anya has been invited, too, and can help him with the adventure. Highs and lows hit, but his first birthday party leads to something more. He wants to throw his own birthday party, and he's not sure how to pull it off, especially since it's still summer time.

This is the second book in the Little Ghost series, and now, we meet the Little Ghost as he already has a best friend in Anya and has made several other friends. While he is a ghost...and cute, his situation is also one readers will be able to identify with. He's excited to go to a birthday party but, at the same time, is very nervous and unsure. This desire to want to do everything right makes him relatable and easy to cheer for, especially with Anya's golden friendship at his side. And the end slides in a lovely message about also staying true to yourself to wrap things up nicely.

The illustrations bring across the scenes with details and life, making each one enjoyable to revisit and discover something new each time. Even when Little Ghost is down, the atmosphere remains positive the entire way through. The text fits nicely to the age group and creates a good read-aloud. The plot moves along quickly, making it interesting for even more impatient listeners. 

It's a lovely tale, and it will be fun to see what Little Ghost and Anya experience next.

And here she is...

Maggie Edkins Willis grew up in Missouri and Maine. She now writes and illustrates books for children from her home studio in the Hudson Valley, where she lives with her husband and two children. Her debut picture book, Little Ghost Makes a Friend, is a bestseller. She is also the creator of the picture books Little Ghost’s Summerween, Dinky the Tinysaur, and Thunderland, and the middle grade graphic novel Smaller Sister. You can visit her online at MaggieMadeThis.com.

Dinky the Tinysaur by Maggie Edkins Willis

Ready for some dinosaur fun? It's been a long time since I've seen a dinosaur book, now that I think about it. And dinosaur books are always happily seen! Today's read promises to hold humor and family fun...and some messages, too, probably.

So, let's open it up and see who this dinosaur is!

DINKY THE TINYSAUR

by Maggie Edkins Willis

Beach Lane Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING...

OCTOBER 7th!!!

An oversized dinosaur named Dinky helps two siblings discover that a person’s heart matters more than their appearance in this delightful picture book perfect for fans of Clifford the Big Red Dog and Dragons Love Tacos.

Twin siblings have their heart set on adopting a dinosaur. But not just any dinosaur—they want a pocket-sized tinysaur! They find the perfect one and name her Dinky. Life with Dinky is lots of fun…until one day when the twins start to notice that Dinky is growing.

When Dinky’s new size causes trouble at their birthday party, the twins get angry and Dinky runs away. But it isn’t long until the twins miss their beloved pet. Can they find Dinky and bring her back home?

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This is a cute, imaginative story, which will have readers wishing they could have a dinosaur of their own.

These twin siblings want a dinosaur as a pet...or rather, a tinysaur since a dinosaur might cause issues due to its larger size. When the dinosaur fair hits the park and families can find their own dino-pets, the twins are excited to find on tinysaur in a box. A real tinysaur according to the box. Having a tinysaur is great and the twins are enjoying every moment with their wonderful pet, but over time, something changes. Little by little, the tinysaur grows until it no longer fits to its name. And that's a gigantic issue.

This is a fun, short, and easy read, which lets the imagination flow with sheer fun. There aren't really any heavy messages in these pages. Rather, it lets the excitement, joy, and issues of having a dino as a pet take over. There are tons of good vibes as the twins spend quality time with their tinysaur, and even when the situation changes, the love is still there. 

This makes a great read for even slightly younger audiences and works great for those readers, who are learning to discover tales on their own, too. The light fun makes for a cute read-aloud, which is sure to put a smile on listeners' faces without raising the excitement level too high, either. 

Not only dino fans are sure to enjoy this adorable tale.

And here she is...

Maggie Edkins Willis grew up in Missouri and Maine. She now writes and illustrates books for children from her home studio in the Hudson Valley, where she lives with her husband and two children. Her debut picture book, Little Ghost Makes a Friend, was a bestseller. She is also the creator of the middle grade graphic novel Smaller Sister. You can visit her online at MaggieMadeThis.com.

Little Ghost Makes A Friend by Maggie Edkins Willis

I'm extremely happy to show today's read, not only because it looks super cute, but I'm dreaming of cooler days, falling leaves, and sweater weather. We have a few more weeks to go, I know. Still, it's fun to start day-dreaming...and I might be scooting my pumpkin spice syrup toward the front of my pantry. 

Anyway, today's read should be an adorable read about a little ghost...and I'm betting this ghost isn't very scary. 

LITTLE GHOST MAKES A FRIEND

by Maggie Edkins Willis

Paula Wiseman Books

Picture Book

40 pages

ages 4 to 8

A shy ghost learns the secret to making friends is being his spooky, sparkly self in this charming debut picture book that’s perfect for fans of Stumpkin .

Little Ghost and his mom have been happily haunting their creaky old house for years, just the two of them. When a new girl moves in next door, Little Ghost wants to introduce himself. But making friends can be scary…until he comes up with the perfect he’s going to invite her over for a Halloween party! But what costume will make her want to be friends with him?

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MY TIDBITS

Some ghosts aren't as spooky as a person might think, and instead, make the best neighbors ever. This ghost slides perfectly into that category.

Little Ghost lives in a friendly neighborhood and in the 'haunted' house between the normal ones. He enjoys living with his ghost mom and likes to watch the people do their thing every day. He especially enjoys Halloween but would like to, maybe, have a party of his own. When a little girl moves in next door, he sees his chance to finally make a friend, but obviously, this isn't going to be an easy thing to accomplish.

While this book starts with a tiny-little hint of haunted house vibes...the Little Ghost does live in a run-down house, after all... the ghost's wonderful personality shines through almost immediately. The ghost isn't bitter about being along with its mother, nor are there ever any negative vibes. Instead, this tale looks at the nervousness and hopes at something, which will be hard to achieve. And maybe not at all doable. The support of the ghost's mother is light but just enough to give a wholesome atmosphere, and the little girl adds a friendly touch. There's also a nice amount of humor built in during the party.

Most of all, this is a lovely tale of friendship and leaves with a smile. It's a fun read for the Halloween season and is sure to get the word 'again' more than once or twice.

And here she is...

Maggie Edkins Willis grew up in Missouri and Maine in houses that, sadly, were not haunted. She now writes and illustrates books for children from her home studio in Princeton, New Jersey, where she lives with her husband and son. Their current house is maybe haunted, but she’s still waiting to meet the ghost. Visit her online at maggiemadethis.com.