Ghosts and Ghouls

PreS-Gr 1–Enter, if you dare, a haunted castle filled with gruesome beasties, fantastical creatures, and paranormal specters roaming the corridors and grounds. This intricately die cut board book boasts a cornucopia of creatures that greet readers as they traverse the scenes from left to right. The cross-section illustrations are layered with peekaboo holes, elaborate pathways, and expository text, which all work seamlessly together to create an immersive video gameplay feel. Navratil combines unusual ghouls, such as basilisks and wood nymphs, with a sophisticated vocabulary, such as lope and crones, creating a narrative that suits an early elementary crowd. Sojdr’s spooky vistas have just the right balance of creepy and cute for entry level thrill-seekers. There is even a how-to guide in the back for those looking to create some scares of their own. The only snafu is that the book’s board book format and intended audience of late preschool to early elementary are not a perfect match.