Just in time for Halloween, Ammi-Joan Paquette’s newest picture book Ghost in the House is a must-add title to elementary school libraries and classrooms. It’s fun and shivery and perfect for the preschool and primary grade set. One child I read this to actually squealed and clapped her hands in anticipation at some of the page-turns–can you ask for a better endorsement than that??
Today Biblio Links welcomes back prolific author Ammi-Joan Paquette. Ghost in the House is her third picture book, and she’s got two middle grade and one young adult novel published so far. Her fourth picture book is out this month called Petey and Pru and the Hullabaloo.
Publisher’s summary: When a little ghost goes slip-sliding down the hallway, he suddenly hears…a groan! Turns out it’s only a friendly mummy, who shuffles along with the ghost, until they encounter…a monster! As the cautious explorers continue, they find a surprise at every turn — and add another adorably ghoulish friend to the count. But you’ll never guess who is the scariest creature in the house!
Boo! Watch out for this rollicking, cumulative counting book for a Halloween treat that’s more playful than scary.
I asked Joan to tell us how Ghost in the House might fit into your library or classroom.
BiblioLinks: A student walks into my library and I think: That kid needs a copy of Ghost in the House. Who is this kid?
Joan: The ideal reader for GHOST IN THE HOUSE is a preschooler who loves humorous, lively stories with a silly side. It’s great for non-readers as an engaging read-aloud, and for emerging readers looking for a simple and highly illustrated text upon which to practice their new skills. It’s a perfect title to pull out around Halloween, though it would work equally well for read-alouds year-round.
BiblioLinks: If we were to peek into a classroom where a teacher is using Ghost in the House in a lesson or with a small group, what might we see?
Joan: Ghost in the House makes great use of rhyme, and could be great for a unit on this topic. There’s also deductive reasoning in the page turns and anticipating what is to come, as well as prompting a discussion about surprise endings, expectations, and how stories (and life situations) sometimes turn expected tropes upon their head and force us to see everything a little differently than we’d expected to.
BiblioLinks: Where can teachers, librarians and students learn more about you and your book?
Joan: Read more about the book at my website, www.ajpaquette.com!
Biblio Links: Thanks for joining us, Joan!
Teachers and librarians, click here for glowing reviews of Ghost in the House.
The Nitty Gritty~
Publisher: Walker Childrens/Bloomsbury
Publication Date: July 2013
ISBN-13: 9780763655297
Interest Level: ages 3-7
Number of Pages: 32
Thanks to Sheila at Book Journeys for starting this meme, and Jen (Teach Mentor Texts) and Kellee (Unleashing Readers) for turning it into a kid-lit meme!
Biblio Links 