How to Make Friends with a Ghost

by Rebecca Green

What do you do when you meet a ghost? One: Provide the ghost with some of its favorite snacks, like mud tarts and earwax truffles. Two: Tell your ghost bedtime stories (ghosts love to be read to). Three: Make sure no one mistakes your ghost for whipped cream or a marshmallow when you aren't looking! If you follow these few simple steps and the rest of the essential tips in How to Make Friends with a Ghost, you'll see how a ghost friend will lovingly grow up and grow old with you.

A whimsical story about ghost care, Rebecca Green's debut picture book is a perfect combination of offbeat humor, quirky and sweet illustrations, and the timeless theme of friendship.

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Ghosts, Fantasy, Friendship, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2017

About the author

Rebecca Green an illustrator, painter, and make believe maker. Her work has a home in children's and middle grade books, magazines, galleries and more. Her preferred materials are colored pencil and gouache, but she also loves to experiment with new mediums.

She spent time living and working in Phoenix AZ, Denver CO, and Nashville, TN but is now figuring out life in Osaka, Japan.

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I debated on whether I should review this since children’s picture books shouldn’t really be evaluated on the same calibre as other books, but eh, I need to bump up my average goodreads rating anyway. I read this book with Nikkee while we were hanging out at a bookstore and this was a really cute, simple story to read with a friend. I enjoyed the art style and limited color palette, the cuteness of the ghosts, and the wholesome story in general. The advice listed out were creative and thoughtful (ghosts love being sung to via eerie hums and wails, hide your ghost in a tissue box when guests come over, etc). It’s adorable and wholesome fun, and the ideas presented are quirky enough to make it unique and less predictable.

[sAmAnE · Rating 5 out of 5]

بهترین بخش دوست شدن با یک شبح این است که شما تا ابد بهترین دوست دنیا را دارید!

[Lotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was very, very lovely and I might've cried a little and it's definitely not because I'm hormonal at the moment, but because this was very, very lovely.

[Dream.M · Rating 3 out of 5]

برای اینکه به چالش گودریدزم برسم باید روزی ۲ تا کتاب بخونم. پس میرم که همه کتاب های کودکان فیدی پلاس و طاقچه بی‌نهایت رو که اینجا اد شده سوراخ کنم.
درضمن این کتابه واقعا کیوته، تصویرگری هاش حرف ندارن خیلی لطیفن 🥰
بنظرم مناسب بچه های پیش دبستانی باشه

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This amazingly cute picture book is a perfectly helpful guide for little ones if they so happen to find a ghost.

The introduction sets the tone of the fun nature of this guide as reminding that children in costumes, specks of dust on a camera lens of a towel on a doorknob can easily be mistaken for a spirit.

We really liked the second section that focused on ghost care.
The various activities and meal suggestions are such fun.

The illustrations are really great too as the girl and her ghost become great friends!

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! The illustrations are so beautiful and cute and remind me of Isabelle Arsenault's style. The story is lovely too, following a little girl who makes friends with a ghost who stays around for the rest of her life.

An ideal story for those who love cute ghosts and an ideal story for those who are scared of ghosts, nobody could read this and not want their own little rosy cheeked pet ghost!

[Alwynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but sweet, a tongue-in-cheek primer on how to befriend a ghost - complete with helpful diagrams! I liked the informal, DIY feel of Green's artwork - hand-lettering working in conjunction with muted goauche and pencil images.

[✦BookishlyRichie✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this to my sister and 7 year old cousin and we all loved it. I had no idea it was going to be written like an actual guide and I think that's why we loved it even more. This is perfect for a fall time read and for kids/adults who love spooky-ooky books! Also the illustrations look like they were ripped right out of a book from the 60s/70s and I think that made it 10x better. Pick this up, you will not regret it. - Richard

*This book was sent to me by Tundra for an honest review. All opinions and spooky feels are my own.

[Melina Souza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morri! Sério! Esse livro é FOFO DEMAIS!
As ilustrações, o texto...tudo!
Se você conhece alguma criança que por acaso tem medo de fantasmas, com certeza esse livro pode ser uma ótima forma de ajudá-la. Acho que ainda não foi publicado no Brasil, mas vou tentar indicar para algumas editoras :)

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This funny, adorable picture book is one both children and adults will enjoy. I loved the story and the cute illustrations. It even made me teary-eyed at the end. Great for Halloween or any time of year.

[fer · Rating 5 out of 5]

MUITO FOFO!!!!!!!! As ilustracoes sao muito lindas e o livro todo é muito quentinho no coracao

[Aylin Kuhls · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cute little Ghost-Book. Nice drawings and a great idea!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author/artist Rebecca Green delivers a heartwarming, entertaining field guide for becoming and being friends with a ghost in this charming debut picture-book. From the introduction, which maintains that people are chosen by ghosts (not the other way around), through the "dos and don'ts" of maintaining such a spooky friendship, the care of one's friendly apparition, and the activities that one can undertake together with one's specter, everything is covered in this comprehensive manual. The book concludes with a section devoted to "Growing Together," in which the changing friendship between human and ghost stretches through the years, concluding with two ghosts...

How to Make Friends With a Ghost was an absolute delight, one all the more charming for being a complete surprise! I'd never heard of Rebecca Green before - no wonder, as this is her first picture-book - and had no idea what to expect, going in. The artwork is lovely, with a subtle palette of browns, blacks and whites, occasionally enlivened by elements of red. The main human and ghost characters are very well done, with expressive faces, and charming, stylized forms. The text is matter-of-face and silly all at once, with plenty of heart to match the humor. Recommended to anyone looking for new ghost stories with a gentle, rather than frightening feeling, as well as to anyone who appreciates beautiful picture-book art.

[Cameron Chaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't usually review picture books because I read so many of them since they're a large part of my job. But I had to at least rate this one since it is just so exceptionally adorable. From the story to the illustrations, How to Make Friends with a Ghost is beautiful in every way. I would have been all over this book as a kid. If you have young ones in your life or are young at heart, check this one out!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a dear, dear picture book—a guide to making friends with a ghost by Dr. Phantoneous Spookel with ghost identification, ghost basics, and growing up with your ghost. It's at once funny, quirky, inventive, and sincere. I mean, hiding your ghost in a tissue box when guests come over! A must fall read with darling and well-done illustrations.

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my! Oh my! When I spotted this book I was already in love, with both the blurb and the cover, but now I am in love with the entire book!

This was just such a delight to read, each page that I swiped (because one only gets ebooks from Netgalley) was filled with so much fun and joy.

The book is a guide on how to make friends with ghosts. From how to find them, and how to get them in your house (though that part seemed a bit like a ghostnapping), to what they like to eat (some very disgusting things), to what to do when you move, and so many more fun things.

There are references to fictional books (From Gross to Boast: Grooming Tips For Your Ghost), and I just want all those books to also come out.

The ending just made me tear up a bit. Oh my, I didn't expect that.

The illustrations are just wonderful. I love the style and the use of colours (nothing to bright or fancy, instead it focuses on brown, red, orange, white, grey which fit the book like a glove).

All in all, this is one book I would highly recommend to everyone!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[One Code 431 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding ghost is difficult but if you found one and can make friendship with the ghost then you will be friends even after the end....

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

A cute and creative book, but not particularly engaging. I guess I just didn't connect with the content as it can't seem to decide whether to portray a ghost as a cute pet, scary apparition or loyal companion. Lovely illustrations and artwork though.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it's not a Halloween story, it could work as a seasonal read aloud. I loved the gothic illustrations in this 3 part guide! Includes Ghost Basics, Ghost Care and Growing Together.

[Hanieh Sadat Shobeiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

عاشق هر چیز کیوتی‌م که توش شبح و هیولا داره :))

[Carous · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fofo!
Eu queria ler este livro desde que a Darkside anunciou a publicação e vi o trabalho gráfico no site. As ilustrações são uma gracinha e eu me apaixonei perdidamente. Só que o preço não ajudava. Até uma promoção pelo Dia das Crianças no Submarino. Então comprei um livro desejado * e * por um preço excelente.

A história não é longa, mas é muito fofinha.
Fui uma criança medrosa e enjoada, então não sei se iria me interessar pelo livro nem se curtiria as sugestões de alimentação para fantasmas ou como fazer amizades com ele. Mas lendo hoje em dia, gostei bastante.

[Roya · Rating 4 out of 5]

خیلیییی بامزه بودددد😭
کاش یه دوستِ شبح داشتم :((((

[Kyra Leseberg (Roots & Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Make Friends with a Ghost is quite literally a how-to guide divided into three parts!

My eight-year-old daughter and I both loved this story of friendship with fun illustrations that entertained us with ghost basics, ghost care (includes a recipe for floating spaghetti and mudballs!), and growing together.
Silly, whimsical, and just a touch spooky (in a lighthearted and fun way); How to Make Friends with a Ghost is a wonderfully illustrated children's book that is recommended by both mom and daughter!

Thanks to LibraryThing Early Reviewers program and Tundra Books for mailing a copy in exchange for our honest review!

For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com

[Elizabeth A · Rating 2 out of 5]

This picture book might well be the perfect Halloween read for the littles in your life. It didn't work as well for this adult reader however. The art is cute and colorful, and there are things that made me smile, but there isn't anything that made me want to hug this book, or give it to someone else and say, here read this! And given that it's targeted at kids, that ending is rather strange no?

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

So adorable!

“How to make Friends with a Ghost” is one adults and kids will love! It has the perfect mix of childhood humor mixed in with deeper themes for adults to enjoy and find heartwarming. The illustrations and color schemes were gorgeous as well. A perfect book to read around Halloween to your kids that isn’t scary, but cute.

[Aida · Rating 5 out of 5]

پایان: ۱۴۰۳/۱/۶
خیلی قشنگ و دوست‌داشتنی بود.
برای اینکه یکم لذت ببرید و حس خوب بگیرید بخونید.
با تصویر هم هست که خیلی قشنگ کرده.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5) Here Green proposes a ghost as a lifelong, visible friend. The book has more words and more advanced ideas than much of what I pick up from the picture book boxes. It’s presented as almost a field guide to understanding the origins and behaviours of ghosts, or maybe a new parent’s or pet owner’s handbook telling how to approach things like baths, bedtime and feeding. What’s unusual about it is that Green takes what’s generally understood as spooky about ghosts and makes it cutesy through faux expert quotes, recipes, etc. She also employs Rowling-esque grossness, e.g. toe jam served on musty biscuits. Perhaps her aim was to tame and thus defang what might make young children afraid. I enjoyed the art more than the sometimes twee words.

Originally published on my blog, Bookish Beck.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly charming with a slightly unsettling ending. I loved the deceptively simple illustrations and the colour palette Green used.

[Vikki VanSickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Green's subtle, nuanced palette is a great balance for her alway whimsical, at times poignant picture book. This is enjoyable simples a How To manual with some clever word and picture play, but it is also a touching message about life, growing up, and eventually growing old.

[Ylenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS THE MOST ADORABLE THING EVER.