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El fantasma del sabado por la noche ; el hombre del caballo bizco
Rare book
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1974
2 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Sid Fleischman
101 books149 followersAs a children's book author Sid Fleischman felt a special obligation to his readers. "The books we enjoy as children stay with us forever -- they have a special impact. Paragraph after paragraph and page after page, the author must deliver his or her best work." With almost 60 books to his credit, some of which have been made into motion pictures, Sid Fleischman can be assured that his work will make a special impact.
Sid Fleischman wrote his books at a huge table cluttered with projects: story ideas, library books, research, letters, notes, pens, pencils, and a computer. He lived in an old-fashioned, two-story house full of creaks and character, and enjoys hearing the sound of the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Fleischman passed away after a battle with cancer on March 17, 2010, the day after his ninetieth birthday.
He was the father of Newbery Medal winning writer and poet Paul Fleischman, author of Joyful Noise; they are the only father and son to receive Newbery awards.
Sid Fleischman wrote his books at a huge table cluttered with projects: story ideas, library books, research, letters, notes, pens, pencils, and a computer. He lived in an old-fashioned, two-story house full of creaks and character, and enjoys hearing the sound of the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Fleischman passed away after a battle with cancer on March 17, 2010, the day after his ninetieth birthday.
He was the father of Newbery Medal winning writer and poet Paul Fleischman, author of Joyful Noise; they are the only father and son to receive Newbery awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 10, 2015
Superb children's ghost story that is both spooky and kooky, and easily as good as McBroom's Ghost (Sid's likely most popular supernatural story.) Excellent, old timey dialog, and lively, wonderfully developed characters in a tale that'll seriously only take you 10-15 minutes to read... it's fast paced and very funny, though be sure to find the original version illustrated by Eric Von Schmidt, the stylized, loose line work and water color wash is perfectly suited to this weird old west tale-- and adds extra atmosphere to the fear-filled, foggy night shenanigans!
October 28, 2015
Absolutely terrific tale of a whip-smart young fellow whose quick actions save the town from a con man.
Fleischman is a wonderful storyteller and I've never been disappointed in one of his books.
Fleischman is a wonderful storyteller and I've never been disappointed in one of his books.
January 13, 2024
I appreciate old time storytelling, dialogue, and humour. There is no such thing as an outdated book because I respect every story as an accurate time capsule that was current at its publishing time. A rare exception is this and I can imagine why 1974 exudes a much older atmosphere than Sid Fleischman conveyed here. He was born in 1920, a Jewish Ukrainian from Brooklyn, USA whom I am happy to learn, surpassed his 90th birthday by a day. I began my existence around this year, a very different vibe than the western atmosphere of this book’s setting. There are however, many more layers than that.
I hated references to killing animals, whom I do not deem appropriate for food and was not impressed enough generally to allot any better than two stars. What I appreciate are the zany heights Sid was willing to climb. His originality is undeniable and a glance at his biography tells me just from whence his colourful setting, plot, and characters come. He was a magician as a boy and wrote books about that art! Therefore, it was natural to him and unique for us, to see such a vaudeville storyline.
The magician, whom the protagonists, Opie and Aunt Etta both intelligently suspect is a fraud, has a nefarious plan. At his performance, these relatives want to determine why he was pretending to reanimate a body. What is ghoulish to me might have been entertaining to other kids of the 1970s, I concede. Nothing about this 57 page fiasco is meant to be serious and I discovered that a youth literature humour award was established in honour of Sid.
I loved how Aunt Etta formidably got Opie admitted to the show. Eric Von Schmidt, surprisingly a Connecticut singer, was a suitable drawer of creepy characters.
I hated references to killing animals, whom I do not deem appropriate for food and was not impressed enough generally to allot any better than two stars. What I appreciate are the zany heights Sid was willing to climb. His originality is undeniable and a glance at his biography tells me just from whence his colourful setting, plot, and characters come. He was a magician as a boy and wrote books about that art! Therefore, it was natural to him and unique for us, to see such a vaudeville storyline.
The magician, whom the protagonists, Opie and Aunt Etta both intelligently suspect is a fraud, has a nefarious plan. At his performance, these relatives want to determine why he was pretending to reanimate a body. What is ghoulish to me might have been entertaining to other kids of the 1970s, I concede. Nothing about this 57 page fiasco is meant to be serious and I discovered that a youth literature humour award was established in honour of Sid.
I loved how Aunt Etta formidably got Opie admitted to the show. Eric Von Schmidt, surprisingly a Connecticut singer, was a suitable drawer of creepy characters.
October 27, 2014
The Ghost on Saturday Night is my favorite children's book ever. So much so that I still read it on occasion when I want to be inspired and travel back to that time in my youth when everything seemed possible and my imagination unencumbered by an adult's reality.
The prose in this book (as is the case with all Sid Fleischman books) is deceptively simple while progressing the story and the inherent tension forward. Fleischman's mastery of the children's story is augmented to the mythic by the amazing illustrations of Eric Von Schmidt, who illustrated many of Sid's books and are as captivating as they are charming. And no greater example of this exists than the Ghost on Saturday Night.
The story itself revolves around a flim-flam man and his stooge assistant who come to town to raise the dead and earn a little coin in a show worthy of a master vaudevillian/sorcerer. I won't give the ending away, suffice to say that the young protagonist is on to the Con man and will solve the mystery of the Ghost who threatens to haunt and terrify the entire town - if he can't find out the secret with the aide of one little cent...penny that is!
Do yourself a favor and try and find the original cover for this amazing little book. I cherish the copy I have from childhood and have never found the original again. Even if you can't, read it as soon as you can (Halloween is a perfect time!) and give yourself and your little one (both inner and outer child) goosebumps while you're handing out (i.e. eating) tricks or treats.
The prose in this book (as is the case with all Sid Fleischman books) is deceptively simple while progressing the story and the inherent tension forward. Fleischman's mastery of the children's story is augmented to the mythic by the amazing illustrations of Eric Von Schmidt, who illustrated many of Sid's books and are as captivating as they are charming. And no greater example of this exists than the Ghost on Saturday Night.
The story itself revolves around a flim-flam man and his stooge assistant who come to town to raise the dead and earn a little coin in a show worthy of a master vaudevillian/sorcerer. I won't give the ending away, suffice to say that the young protagonist is on to the Con man and will solve the mystery of the Ghost who threatens to haunt and terrify the entire town - if he can't find out the secret with the aide of one little cent...penny that is!
Do yourself a favor and try and find the original cover for this amazing little book. I cherish the copy I have from childhood and have never found the original again. Even if you can't, read it as soon as you can (Halloween is a perfect time!) and give yourself and your little one (both inner and outer child) goosebumps while you're handing out (i.e. eating) tricks or treats.
August 8, 2007
My all time favorite book.
August 30, 2020
A great little story with clever twists and plenty of Fleischman's humor.
September 21, 2024
This book was an incredibly quick read. I had intended to use it for a few days of bedtime reading, but finished it in one. Opi wants a horse more than anything, but his aunt insists that the only way he can have one is if he earns enough money to buy a saddle for it. So, Opi does whatever he can to earn money, including running errands, directing people through the thick tule fog, etc. And one of his rounds of helping doesn't earn him a couple of pennies as he hoped, but tickets to see a real life ghost resurrection! The sense of atmosphere was great and while the book remained creepy, it never became scary, making it great for younger readers who want something to give them a chill, without giving them nightmares.
Also, I have to point out that on the cover of my book, Professor Pepper looks like Boris Karloff and Vincent Price combined, and I'm 100% here for that interpretation!
Also, I have to point out that on the cover of my book, Professor Pepper looks like Boris Karloff and Vincent Price combined, and I'm 100% here for that interpretation!
August 18, 2019
I remember Miss Beckmann, the school librarian, reading this book to me in Grade 4 or so, at Riverview Elementary School in Chippawa, Ontario.
It stuck with me my whole life, and when I had kids of my own, I tracked down a copy through the internet so I could read it to my own kids.
It's a terrific story, well-paced, and there are just enough characters in the story that a parent can come up with a couple of voices to read the parts in...and I encourage you to try!
The illustrations are watercolour inks, and capture the slightly creepy, fantastical nature of the story.
I have read this book at campfires, and can attest that it makes a good "ghost story" for an interested crowd.
It stuck with me my whole life, and when I had kids of my own, I tracked down a copy through the internet so I could read it to my own kids.
It's a terrific story, well-paced, and there are just enough characters in the story that a parent can come up with a couple of voices to read the parts in...and I encourage you to try!
The illustrations are watercolour inks, and capture the slightly creepy, fantastical nature of the story.
I have read this book at campfires, and can attest that it makes a good "ghost story" for an interested crowd.
February 12, 2023
Nothing makes me miss California like reading about a Tule fog. I know that fog well, and even came to love it. It really is a thick thing which will make you lose your way in no time flat. This fog is the backbone of this rollicking story about outsmarting a shyster told in a voice which you can hear so strongly as you read you can't help but wonder why everyone can't write that way.
My favorite part of all this? The whole chase thing. Sure, it could probably never happen, but gosh it's fun. Hence my recommendation of this book!
My favorite part of all this? The whole chase thing. Sure, it could probably never happen, but gosh it's fun. Hence my recommendation of this book!
December 23, 2008
this is the first book I remember picking up and reading on my own in school. We had to write our own stories, and I remember mine had some interesting similarities to this book. I guess it had a profound effect. I always wondered what it was called and when I married Matt he had it. I knew we were meant to be!
June 24, 2021
3.5
The writing style had me thinking that this was going to be a melodrama, but fortunately it isn't. Nor is it a tall-tale. Set in late 1800s California, this is a mix of suspense, humor, and adventure.
Ten-year-old Opie, who lives with his great-aunt, has spunk and determination.
The kids will like it.
The writing style had me thinking that this was going to be a melodrama, but fortunately it isn't. Nor is it a tall-tale. Set in late 1800s California, this is a mix of suspense, humor, and adventure.
Ten-year-old Opie, who lives with his great-aunt, has spunk and determination.
The kids will like it.
September 4, 2008
The illustrations that were part of the edition I read (not this one) made the story that much more spooky.
Great read for a kid. It may keep them up at night, but there's a happy and funny ending.
Great read for a kid. It may keep them up at night, but there's a happy and funny ending.
June 14, 2012
I found this book on the shelf at my son's elementary school & recalled it as being one of my FAVORITE books when it was released in the 1970s and I was in elementary school myself!
I read it over just a few days ago & found it just as captivating, fun & clever as I had over 30 years ago. Bravo!
I read it over just a few days ago & found it just as captivating, fun & clever as I had over 30 years ago. Bravo!
August 4, 2012
The first time I read this book, it scared me. I had nightmares for a week! I read and reread it enough times that I was just able to enjoy it and not worry about it. I will gladly get it for my daughter when she is of age.
April 23, 2015
A great little tale featuring a battle of wits in frontier California between resourceful young lad and his mentor great-aunt, and a couple of enterprising entertainers. Sid Fleischman demonstrated his knack for concise narrative in this clever adventure.
March 6, 2020
One of my favorite author's as a kid, Sid Fleischman really knew how to tell a yarn. This story won the 1977 Mark Twain Reader's Award which is awarded by the Missouri Association of School Librarians.
June 25, 2010
LOVE this book - I read it every year - quick, fun, witty and clever! Your children will Love it too!!!
March 25, 2011
Short and simple, but entertaining. A little bit of old west mixed with some Roald Dahl-type humor. Good short read.
August 30, 2012
One of those childhood favorites that has just gotten better with age. A great western tale, a California story, a mystery, a thriller - and just a perfect little book.
May 17, 2020
Adorei! Uma história muito gostosa de se ler e deliciar a cada página virada. Mal posso esperar pro meu filho crescer um pouco pra que eu possa ler pra ele ❤
January 28, 2022
I'd forgotten how much I loved this author until I started reading this to my daughter.
June 16, 2022
This book fascinated me as a child and it's just as charming and engrossing now, as an adult. I love it so much.
October 9, 2024
Deux histoires complètement différentes et pourtant si captivantes, j'ai littéralement dévoré ce livre! Les personnages étaient attachant. Opie et Damien jeunes garçons pourtant banal, on fait preuve d'une extrême intelligence et d'un courage pour résoudre leurs problèmes, ça donnait presque envie d'être comme eux.
En tout cas super lecture, je le recommande fortement (en plus il se lis extrêmement vite)!
En tout cas super lecture, je le recommande fortement (en plus il se lis extrêmement vite)!
March 23, 2020
I'm wondering if I got the full book in the edition I have. It was only 50 or so pages and many illustrations. There really wasn't much of a story, and was not scary at all. I can't even imagine a child finding this scary. It was ok.
October 23, 2022
This was one of my favorite books when I was in elementary school. I remember checking it out again and again from the school library and being able to spot it easily in the same place in the stacks by looking for its purple spine.
January 5, 2024
It's difficult not to love Sid Fleischman's witty voice and clever style. This very short story set in the American frontier is reminiscent of O'Henry. Packed with some action and suspense, it respects a young reader's intelligence. The climax is fun though the resolution is a little lack-luster.
June 5, 2017
A cute little book about a boy who tricks a conman so that he can be sent to jail. love it.
April 30, 2020
Super short and my girls got a kick out of it.
May 24, 2020
Cute little book. It was pretty good. Sid Fleishman always has great books, including this one! 4 stars.
November 4, 2020
Fun quick read. Especially for children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews