The Boo! Book (review)

According to Lachenmeyer, it's not only buildings that can be haunted—apparently ghosts can dwell in the pages of a book as well. He presents helpful instructions on ghost detection and appropriate handling: "Never say anything uncomplimentary about ghosts in the presence of a haunted book" or read a haunted book "on the anniversary of the day the ghost first took up residence in the book" (otherwise you'll get "sucked up into the book"). It is also crucial to regularly pay some attention to the haunted book so that the ghost doesn't become bored and leave—the last page turn depicts just such an incident, with a large pop-up ghost departing a home, suitcase in hand. Lachenmeyer's imaginative text is both straightforward and lyrical, keeping the haunting more spookily magical than scary. It's Ceccoli's impressive and intricate illustrations, however, that truly bring this book to ethereal life. Using "a combination of plasticine puppets, digital photography, Photoshop, and acrylics on paper," Ceccoli creates an almost three-dimensional, soft-focus world of muted, twilight tones in which horizons are tilted and objects float or turn upside down. The effect is beautifully supernatural rather than creepy, and the blue-gray, cat-eared, rosy-cheeked ghost is appealingly stuffed-animal-like, the only hint of his spectral origins being two tiny fangs. This would make a fine addition to either a Halloween- or book-themed storytime or add a delicious hint of eeriness to a bedtime readaloud.