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Ghosts in the House!
JUST THE RIGHT MIX OF SWEET AND SCARY for the youngest trick-or treaters At the edge of town lives a clever girl with a spooky Her house is haunted! Luckily, she happens to be a witch and knows a little something about taking care of ghosts. She catches them, puts them in the washing machine, airs them out to dry, and gives them new lives as sofa covers, table cloths, and, of course, bed sheets to cozy up under. Fresh and charming illustrations in dynamic orange, black and white bring this resourceful heroine and these spooky ghosts to life.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
8 people are currently reading
1050 people want to read
About the author
Kazuno Kohara
7 books52 followersKazuno Kohara grew up in Japan and moved to the U.K. as a student. She is the author of Here Comes Jack Frost and Ghosts in the House! She lives in London, England.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kazuno...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/kazuno...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
November 9, 2021
This is my favorite book by this author, and quite possibly my favorite picture book that I've read this year. It's so simple and yet, I love it so much. It's great for beginning readers; it's great for kids who like spooky stuff but scare easily; simply put, it's wonderful all around. The story is so endearing and the characters are just precious. Naturally, as with this author's other works, the art is adorable--or as my kids might say "totes adorbs sauce." In this one, she uses the colors orange, black, and white, to paint the scene for the little witch and her ghosts. Another great addition to your bookshelf, this one comes highly recommended by yours truly, and it's appropriate for all ages.
February 17, 2021
This has beautiful illustrations, I really like this illustrators style, in orange, black and white they look like they have been done in a Lino cut style or paper cutouts.
We got this out of the library several times when my my children were small and we loved the cute little ghosts but it does feel sad that when the witch moves in to this house she captures the ghosts and makes them into boring things like table cloths and curtains. To see friendly little ghosts stitched into curtains always made my children say how sad it was and feel so sorry for them.
A reread today from the library, lovely illustrations but a sad and almost bullying storyline. I hope these ghosts break free!
We got this out of the library several times when my my children were small and we loved the cute little ghosts but it does feel sad that when the witch moves in to this house she captures the ghosts and makes them into boring things like table cloths and curtains. To see friendly little ghosts stitched into curtains always made my children say how sad it was and feel so sorry for them.
A reread today from the library, lovely illustrations but a sad and almost bullying storyline. I hope these ghosts break free!
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November 10, 2021I'm updating my review because I recently read Jennie's review here on GoodReads and feel I got a new outlook on the story as she shares the Japanese perspective on these "ghosts" in the house. It was very illuminating for me! I'll leave my original thoughts on the story below, because I still personally found the storyline troubling based on my Western background (and I know some other Western readers felt the same) but I do feel that it's important to listen to new perspectives and I would thus refer anyone who felt disturbed by the story, as I did, to read Jennie's review. I certainly feel better about the story with this interpretation:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My original thoughts:
I am afraid I must join the minority of reviewers here who found the storyline troubling. Little Witch moves to a new house, but the only problem is, it is full of ghosts. So, she uses her clever, witching skills to find a way to solve this little problem. She catches all the ghosts, puts them in the wash, and when the "sheets" come out (still with the little ghost faces), she uses them for curtains and tablecloths and bed sheets. I think this is meant to showcase her ingenuity--a good trait to encourage in kids. BUT...
I found it upsetting especially in conjunction with the illustrations. The ghosts are not scary or evil or menacing-looking. In fact, they are very cute and most of them are smiling, almost as if inviting the Little Witch into "their" house. It seems that the Little Witch is disposing of creatures she doesn't like simply because they are in her way or not "like" her. (With American history forefront in my mind, I couldn't help but think of the settlers coming and taking over Native American lands, so it was upsetting to me.) Of course, this is my very grown-up and personal interpretation of the story, but I am still not sure I am comfortable the little witch's methods. Rather than trying to talk to "the other" the little witch made them conform to her wishes. I wish she had found a way to understand and befriend the ghosts, rather than simply repurposing them according to her design.
However, I will not deny that Kohara is a talented artist. And I doubt she had any unpleasant intentions in mind when making such an adorably illustrated little Halloween book about being brave.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My original thoughts:
I am afraid I must join the minority of reviewers here who found the storyline troubling. Little Witch moves to a new house, but the only problem is, it is full of ghosts. So, she uses her clever, witching skills to find a way to solve this little problem. She catches all the ghosts, puts them in the wash, and when the "sheets" come out (still with the little ghost faces), she uses them for curtains and tablecloths and bed sheets. I think this is meant to showcase her ingenuity--a good trait to encourage in kids. BUT...
I found it upsetting especially in conjunction with the illustrations. The ghosts are not scary or evil or menacing-looking. In fact, they are very cute and most of them are smiling, almost as if inviting the Little Witch into "their" house. It seems that the Little Witch is disposing of creatures she doesn't like simply because they are in her way or not "like" her. (With American history forefront in my mind, I couldn't help but think of the settlers coming and taking over Native American lands, so it was upsetting to me.) Of course, this is my very grown-up and personal interpretation of the story, but I am still not sure I am comfortable the little witch's methods. Rather than trying to talk to "the other" the little witch made them conform to her wishes. I wish she had found a way to understand and befriend the ghosts, rather than simply repurposing them according to her design.
However, I will not deny that Kohara is a talented artist. And I doubt she had any unpleasant intentions in mind when making such an adorably illustrated little Halloween book about being brave.
July 12, 2017
What do you do when your house is haunted? This book will answer that question for you in a unique and humorous way. Fantastic Art!
February 24, 2016
I thought this was super cute, but I also think you need to understand Japanese culture a bit to appreciate the heroine's repurposing of ghosts. Shinto based animist beliefs are still honored in Japan and unsettled disgruntled household objects are considered capable of haunting - including old chopsticks and umbrellas. There is even a Buddhist festival each year to honor old sewing needles. The needles are stuck into a block of tofu to honor them for their service (giving them a soft place to rest at the end of their "life"). Anyone who has read Marie Kondo's The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up has been exposed to this idea that our things have feelings and should be used and respected and thanked for their hard work.
I'm amused that more western readers have read into this a colonization/genocidal sort of narrative. Considered in context it's a harmless and rather sweet story - this little girl gave a bunch of bored perturbed spooks a whole new job and purpose. Victory! The western idea that ghosts are dead folk that have unfinished business is not at play here. The little witch isn't subjugating dead grandmas to eternal slavery as a tablecloth and it's not a parable about the white man taking over Native lands.
I'm amused that more western readers have read into this a colonization/genocidal sort of narrative. Considered in context it's a harmless and rather sweet story - this little girl gave a bunch of bored perturbed spooks a whole new job and purpose. Victory! The western idea that ghosts are dead folk that have unfinished business is not at play here. The little witch isn't subjugating dead grandmas to eternal slavery as a tablecloth and it's not a parable about the white man taking over Native lands.
October 8, 2016
I didn't think this was a good picture book. It was super simple and there was two moments in the book where I had to pause and go back. I thought this could have been a lot better.
October 3, 2013
Absolutely delightful! I just discovered this book today (October 2013) on a display at Barnes & Noble, and couldn't resist the wonderful artwork! To my great joy, the story is equally wonderful! A young witch and her cat find a hilarious solution to the ghosts haunting their new house . . . my four-year-old laughed and laughed. the pages are all orange and black, and the white ghosts are actually translucent! So inventive, I just loved it! A fantastic addition to your Halloween library. (It's so hard to find Halloween books that aren't cartoon or movie tie-ins! The Disney princess Halloween? REALLY?!)
August 7, 2015
I love this book! My favorite one for my daughter and I to read at Halloween! I love the illustrations and the cat :)
January 20, 2019
2014: This book was just perfect to read to my four-year-old for Halloween. It's Halloween-themed, but not scary at all. I liked the ingenuity of the main character, and I loved the ghost illustrations.
Update: I like this book even better the second time around. The story feels empowering to children who are afraid of ghosts and other spooks. My daughter has been struggling lately with being afraid of the night, and I love that this story shows how she can take control of her own fears and make them into something better.
Update: I like this book even better the second time around. The story feels empowering to children who are afraid of ghosts and other spooks. My daughter has been struggling lately with being afraid of the night, and I love that this story shows how she can take control of her own fears and make them into something better.
October 12, 2022
The illustrations were nice as well as the use of colours. However, i wish the story coud have been a bit more interesting, 'cause it had a lot of potential. We basically have this young girl, completely unafraid of ghosts, who enters a haunted house and just ends up "taming them" and using them as everyday objects.
October 25, 2019
Ghosts don't have to be scary, they can be useful!
October 12, 2018
A young witch-girl moves into her new house at the edge of town in Kazuno Kohara's Ghosts in the House! (The Haunted House in Britain), promptly setting out to "neutralize" its ghostly inhabitants. Soon those whispy white critters have been put to "good" use: as curtains, sheets and table-cloths...
Like the friend who put me onto this - I wouldn't like to say she recommended it, as her reaction was rather mixed - I was immediately drawn in by Kohara's Halloween-appropriate artwork, with its bold, block-like illustrations in black, orange, and gauzy white. The story is simple, with only a few words per page, and will keep young readers (and listeners) involved. Although I can see why some other reviewers were dismayed by the (possible) subtext of Ghosts in the House!, with its narrative of "the other" being forced to change, I read it as pure wish-fulfillment fantasy, in which the wild and frightening is domesticated. And I mean "fantasy" in the psychological sense: something transgressive, transformative, and most definitely not meant to be true.
Like the friend who put me onto this - I wouldn't like to say she recommended it, as her reaction was rather mixed - I was immediately drawn in by Kohara's Halloween-appropriate artwork, with its bold, block-like illustrations in black, orange, and gauzy white. The story is simple, with only a few words per page, and will keep young readers (and listeners) involved. Although I can see why some other reviewers were dismayed by the (possible) subtext of Ghosts in the House!, with its narrative of "the other" being forced to change, I read it as pure wish-fulfillment fantasy, in which the wild and frightening is domesticated. And I mean "fantasy" in the psychological sense: something transgressive, transformative, and most definitely not meant to be true.
August 15, 2011
The one to have this Halloween season! this will be a classic for decades to come. the pages are in glorious orange, with black and white played against this backdrop beautifully! This book takes one back to construction paper projections. The story is cute, and And the ghosts are great~! This book is for my private collection, to be cherished for years to come!
August 18, 2021
This book is striking, with its orange pages and black illustrations. I found it incredibly sweet, and loved the art style; I would have adored it as a child, I’m sure. By its very nature it is brief, but it is also lovely.
October 18, 2024
loved it, loved it, loved it. Super cute story with bold simple illustrations.
October 17, 2021
This short story is so beautiful my daughter loved it so much the use of the color is so clever really cute spooky theme to read the young ones in this October
July 15, 2013
A young girl moves into a house at the edge of town. The problem is that her new house it haunted. Wait, that's not a problem because she is a witch and knows just what to do with these ghosts. She washes those ghosts up and helps them become more useful to her.
This is a great story to read to younger elementary students at Halloween time. It looks scary and very Halloween-y with its orange and black graphics, and traditional white/semi-transparent ghosts. It is a ghost (and witch) story that isn't scary. If you read it in the classroom or in the library, little ones will not be scared that night when they are sleeping, but they will like that they got to read a book about Halloween.
In a classroom or library setting, I think it would be fun to read this book and then give the students orange and black construction paper and markers and some tissue papers and have them make their own graphics for a book. The students could come up with some other uses for the ghosts. This book could really get their imaginations going.
Again, I would recommend this book to younger students, Preschool-1st grade. The text is very easy, and it would be a great beginning reader. The graphics also go with the text very well, and even add to the story. Some may not, but I love the traditional look of the witch and the ghosts. I think this is a cute, simple, fun read
This is a great story to read to younger elementary students at Halloween time. It looks scary and very Halloween-y with its orange and black graphics, and traditional white/semi-transparent ghosts. It is a ghost (and witch) story that isn't scary. If you read it in the classroom or in the library, little ones will not be scared that night when they are sleeping, but they will like that they got to read a book about Halloween.
In a classroom or library setting, I think it would be fun to read this book and then give the students orange and black construction paper and markers and some tissue papers and have them make their own graphics for a book. The students could come up with some other uses for the ghosts. This book could really get their imaginations going.
Again, I would recommend this book to younger students, Preschool-1st grade. The text is very easy, and it would be a great beginning reader. The graphics also go with the text very well, and even add to the story. Some may not, but I love the traditional look of the witch and the ghosts. I think this is a cute, simple, fun read
October 6, 2013
How convenient that the little girl who moves into a haunted house just happens to be a witch. She and her costumed cat catch all of the not-so-scary ghosts and put them to use all through the house as curtains, tablecloths, and bedsheets. This book is so visually striking and is done in just three shades: orange, black, and a semi opaque white. I couldn't help but touch the ghosts because they look so textural. For me, the book had a cool retro look to it that was instantly appealing, and the sweet story did not disappoint. With its simple art and text, this is a perfect read for preschoolers, kindergartners, and first graders to enjoy.
In 2008 "Ghosts in the House!" won the Horn Book Fanfare Award for being one of the best books of the year published for children and teens, selected by reviewers and editors of the Horn Book Magazine from more than five hundred books. The artsy, retro look, and the perfect Halloween story for young readers made this a clear contender for the award. Happy ghosts and and a little girl with a "can do" attitude pushed it over the top. This was a well-deserved honor for a perfectly lovely book.
In 2008 "Ghosts in the House!" won the Horn Book Fanfare Award for being one of the best books of the year published for children and teens, selected by reviewers and editors of the Horn Book Magazine from more than five hundred books. The artsy, retro look, and the perfect Halloween story for young readers made this a clear contender for the award. Happy ghosts and and a little girl with a "can do" attitude pushed it over the top. This was a well-deserved honor for a perfectly lovely book.
October 15, 2021
Reread, 2021: Such cleverly executed linocuts! Magnificent wish-fulfillment: not just to be a witch, but one who handily tackles her problems by turning them into cuddly blankets. I want to live in that final spread so bad. I think four stars is still accurate given the relative complexity, but I was right that this is one of the best Halloweeny picture books because it's a flawless reread.
Original review, 2019: This isn't the world's most robust children's book, but everything it does it does exceptionally well. The tricolor illustrations are bold and cleverly achieved--I love the orange backdrops and the texture in the black and white. Most Halloweeny kid's lit loses momentum halfway through when it exchanges a creepy tone for a happy resolution, but this is distinctly spoopy instead of scary--a cute and witchy aesthetic that grows rather than dissolving as the book progresses, which makes for a strong finish. This is a sheer delight, and easily one of the best Halloween or Halloween-appropriate kid's books I've read.
Original review, 2019: This isn't the world's most robust children's book, but everything it does it does exceptionally well. The tricolor illustrations are bold and cleverly achieved--I love the orange backdrops and the texture in the black and white. Most Halloweeny kid's lit loses momentum halfway through when it exchanges a creepy tone for a happy resolution, but this is distinctly spoopy instead of scary--a cute and witchy aesthetic that grows rather than dissolving as the book progresses, which makes for a strong finish. This is a sheer delight, and easily one of the best Halloween or Halloween-appropriate kid's books I've read.
November 18, 2011
17 months/29 months - Love love love the illustrations and the story. I can't even imagine reading supremacy into this story, but I guess you can warp the cutest of things into something horrible if you try hard enough. I saw this as a scared little girl and her cat move into a new (to them) big house and instead of letting it get to her she takes charge and dresses up to be a witch with her costume (and a black cat costume for her kitty) and conquer her fears... Ghosts aren't real, they're just sheets that, with a good washing, can be used for drapes, table clothes or bed sheets.
November 18, 2011
Delightful! What a whimsical tale. Good thing ghosts like hanging and lying around!
The linoleum cut-style illustrations added a rudimentary touch that complimented the simple story. As some have complained here, the tale IS simple. There is no message delivered with a heavy hand. However, I feel the simplicity is the story's strength. Why can't a picture book just be about a simple concept: a witch moves into a haunted house and makes draperies of the ghosts. The pictures make the tale, which is only appropriate. It is a picture book after all.
Loved it, and was inspired by it.
The linoleum cut-style illustrations added a rudimentary touch that complimented the simple story. As some have complained here, the tale IS simple. There is no message delivered with a heavy hand. However, I feel the simplicity is the story's strength. Why can't a picture book just be about a simple concept: a witch moves into a haunted house and makes draperies of the ghosts. The pictures make the tale, which is only appropriate. It is a picture book after all.
Loved it, and was inspired by it.
October 18, 2011
I spotted this gem on display in the children's section of the library.
I looked familiar.
I figured it was a classic from back in the day.
I knew I had read it before.
(pick it up flip to the publication date... 2008)
Wait! Huh? But I could have sworn I read it before.
So right there, with out even checking it out.
I read it.
I smiled.
It was simple.
It was cute.
It was sweet and charming.
Perfect little ghost story for any little witch or goblin!
I looked familiar.
I figured it was a classic from back in the day.
I knew I had read it before.
(pick it up flip to the publication date... 2008)
Wait! Huh? But I could have sworn I read it before.
So right there, with out even checking it out.
I read it.
I smiled.
It was simple.
It was cute.
It was sweet and charming.
Perfect little ghost story for any little witch or goblin!
October 20, 2008
I am just so tickled "orange" by this book! Love the orange/black block colors, love the sandy scratchy white overlay of the white of the ghosts, love the very childish idea of Ghosts/Sheets equation, the simplicity of the text and logic, and the flowing of the lines. The whole thing just works!
September 22, 2011
I absolutely love this book. It is stunning. Checked it out from the library for Bella but I think I may have to add it to my own personal collection. Yes I have a shelf in my studio with my own, personal kids books (not to mention my book shelves at work). ;)
November 2, 2016
The art style in this one is precious
December 17, 2016
Adorable story of a little girl who, instead of being spooked by the ghosts in her house, puts them to practical use. Gorgeous illustrations in only black, orange, and white are tons of fun.
April 30, 2020
As advertised, this is "just the right mix of sweet and scary." The girl (witch) uses a very sensible method to handle the ghosts in the house.
November 9, 2020
The ending was slightly anticlimactic, or maybe I would have liked a few more pages on this book, but I loved the concept and the art! And obviously I loved the cat helping the young witch. :D
July 14, 2021
Aunque la historia es muy sencilla, las ilustraciones y los colores son totalmente encantadores.
October 31, 2022
Isabella encantada viendo los muchos usos de los fantasmas 😂😂😂 ahora pasa cerca de las cortinas de la casa de su nonna y los saluda 👋
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews