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Reviewed by:
  • The Scariest Book Ever by Bob Shea
  • Sarah Sahn
Shea, Bob The Scariest Book Ever; written and illus. by Bob Shea. Disney Hyperion, 2017 [34p]
ISBN 978-1-4847-3046-1 $16.99
Reviewed from galleys R 4-8 yrs

A ghost roams the halls of his spooky house and peers fearfully out the window at the woods beyond. In his direct address to the audience, he explains he'd love to go explore them with the listener, but unfortunately, he's spilled some orange juice on his sheet and has nothing to wear. Populated with pink and blue trees, smiling clouds, and woodland creatures preparing for a costume party, the woods in question look more like Matty Long's Super Happy Magic Forest (BCCB 3/16) than anything else, but the ghost is certain he's being fooled when he hears reports [End Page 517] of its cuteness and prefers to stay home and take care of his cat. In between vibrant textless digital spreads of the adorably geometric forest denizens making costumes and picking pumpkins on a bright yellow background, the ghost addresses the audience from the blue and black interior of his house, hilariously interpreting the goings-on in the forest for the worst. One-sided conversation invites readaloud performance and improvisational responses from listeners, who will be tickled by the ghost's insistence that anything at all in this book is scary ("Don't leave! I got us doughnuts! Spooooooooky doughnuts"). Horror fans and scaredy cats alike won't want to wait for Halloween for this treat of a book.

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