The Ghosts Went Floating

by Kim Norman, Jay Fleck (Illustrator)

A Bank Street Best Book of 2021

Inspired by the children's song "The Ants Went Marching" and involving early math concepts, writer Kim Norman and illustrator Jay Fleck's The Ghosts Went Floating is a spooktacular adventure perfect for Halloween.

The ghosts went floating,
one by one,
BOO-rah! BOO-rah!
when Halloween had just begun.
BOO-rah! BOO-rah!
The ghosts went floating, one by one,
so why don’t YOU come join the fun?

Trick-or-treat with ghosts, skeletons, witches, zombies, and all sorts of cute and creepy creatures in this fun-filled Halloween counting adventure!

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Storytime, Holiday, Childrens, Monsters, Music

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 14, 2020

About the author

Kim Norman is the author of more than a dozen children’s books published by Sterling, Scholastic and two Penguin imprints. Titles include Ten on the Sled, (Sterling) which spent weeks on Barnes and Noble’s Top Ten bestseller list and has been released in Korean and German editions as well as appearing in Scholastic Book Fairs in schools around North America. I Know a Wee Piggy, was reviewed in the New York Times, and is listed on the Texas “2x2 Reading List,” as well being offered by Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.

Kim has a long history of theater & musical performing, which she enjoys including in her school visits and presentations. Songs and videos on her website, kimnormanbooks.com

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

4 stars for the illustrations; they are super cute!
1 star for dragging through this horrid experience that was FAR TOO LONG. Yes, I know the song, and it's too long. It really is. Make it 5, especially for today's children. Thank you.

My review, in the style of this VERY LONG book:

Look at these sweet little spawn. (Boo-rah! Boo-rah!)
Their pictures are so cutely drawn. (Boo-rah! Boo-rah!)
The rhyming drags on far too long,
it isn't good just like this song,
as I went into a stupor,
not feeling super,
turning page after page,
after page after page,
page, page, page.

I can't take anymore, oh, no! (Boo-rah! B00-rah!)
Nine more numbers left to go! (Boo-rah! Boo-rah!)
This wretched thing does not slow,
its rhymes they really do not flow,
as I writhed in pain,
feeling insane. "Stop!"
Just Stop! Now Stop!
"Stop! Stop! Stop!"

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Counting and rhyming fun as a throng of ghosts, witches, monsters, goblins, zombies, and other creatures all head up a hill, and down the street under a full moon for Halloween fun.

[Kate Buechler]

I frequently read books that I absolutely have to read outloud, but this one demanded to be sung.

[Jennifer Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really cute book! I may have enjoyed it more than my daughter.

Reminiscent of the “ants go marching”

Great illustrations

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 3 out of 5]

The sing-song rhythm of the song “The Ants Go Marching One by One” is the basis for this Halloween picture book. Ghosts went marching one by one, witches cackled two by two, and so on, with the refrain of “Boo-rah! Boo-rah!” The diminutive ghosts, witches, mummies and the like are cute and child-sized, and look more starved for candy than for blood. They all end up at a festive Halloween party, dancing and dunking for apples. The colors are pleasingly deep matte oranges, blues, greens and purples, which complement the Halloween theme.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by the children's song The Ants Went Marching and involving early math concepts, writer Kim Norman and illustrator Jay Fleck's The Ghosts Went Floating is a spooktacular adventure perfect for Halloween.



The ghosts went floating,
one by one,
BOO-rah! BOO-rah!
when Halloween had just begun.
BOO-rah! BOO-rah!
The ghosts went floating, one by one,
so why don't YOU come join the fun?

Trick-or-treat with ghosts, skeletons, witches, zombies, and all sorts of cute and creepy creatures in this fun-filled Halloween counting adventure!

[Nik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Halloween books to read to my kids (currently 11 months old and 4 years old). The art is super adorable. This book has Some of my favorite picture book Halloween art ever. The werewolves are so stinking cute I wish they would hop out of the pages so I could hug them and squish them and pet them and cuddle them.

The story itself is basically a Halloween version of “The ants went marching” but sooo much better with each verse featuring a different Halloween creature.

You could definitely choose to read this book to your kids the normal way and the rhyming verse would still be sweet and catchy but it is way way more fun to sing it and if your little ones are anything like mine it will completely engage their attention while you sing each verse to them while gazing in complete awe upon the charming little haunts and ghouls that march through the pages.

I also would like to note that I purchased this book when my four year old was two. We have read it every year and he still loves it. So I can safely say this is tested and perfect for ages 10 months - 4 years old and more than likely well beyond.

Highly recommended for little kids who want to enjoy sweet Halloween fun minus any of the scares. Highly recommend for anyone who has little kids or babies in their lives that they want to share the joy of reading, Halloween, and/or singing with.

5 billion enthusiastic squeeing in delight stars

[Abby Johnson]

This playful, adorable take on "The Ants Go Marching" counts up from one to ten with kawaii monsters and ghouls of all types marching by the light of the moon (moon moon moon). This would be such a fun one to sing with young children and the creatures are definitely cute, not scary. There's a slight Halloween tie in at the very end as the monsters end up all marching up your street for Trick or Treat. You maybe could get away with skipping the last two spreads in order to make this storytime appropriate, or it would make a darling felt story. And by all means, if you celebrate Halloween, pick this one up to share with the littles in your life.

[Stella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Halloween counting book for children that doesn’t make logical sense to my brain. There is apparently only one ghost even though it says ghosts? And the skeletons just join in without a number (there are three skeletons, for the record). Two witches, three mummies, four werewolves, five zombies, six goblins, seven vampires, eight ghouls, nine monsters plus Dr. Frankenstein. And they all move # by #. If you are parading 10 by 10, aren’t there ten rows of ten, not one row of ten? Not sure I would use this to teach math concepts, but some of the illustrations are quite cute.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming little counting books using spooky creatures children will love on the march to a party for Halloween. The artwork is cute and leads to a lovely read aloud experience. This is quietly interactive with counting and noise making during the sweet rhymes passages. Nothing overly original, but still charming and delightful.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A three year old with an obsession with all things Halloween had me singing this one aloud. If you like The Ants Go Marching and your kids are interested in a variation on that song, check this one out. The illustrations are charming and will keep the little ones counting all the way through. And, goblins even get a verse! What’s not to love!

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute and so much fun! There is a page or two where there are so many syllables per line that it can become a bit of a tongue twister (I'm looking at you vampires), but the challenge was worth it. The illustrations are wonderful, and I'm always down for a good singable book. I'm looking forward to sharing this with my preschoolers at tomorrow's library Storytime.

[Elaine Bearden · Rating 5 out of 5]

preschool - 2nd grade

takes familiar song and creatively and imaginatively creates it anew + lots of rounded characters in illustration make it not spooky. Could be really fun for a school halloween night.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea the text is based on the song The Ants Came Marching. It would be good to sing the text. :)
The rhyming text, without this background, seems awkward.
Counting.
Interactive with children joining in with "Boo-rah! Boo-rah!"
Cute.

[Elizabeth]

This was a lot of fun. I sang it to my (mostly) willing/polite colleagues. The "ten" rhyme was disappointing, but the "nine" rhyme is everything I didn't know I was missing in a Halloween picture book.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rhyming counting book using typical Halloween creatures - ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, vampires, monsters etc…

I especially liked the illustrations that manage to make all these creatures look adorably cute.

Perfect read for toddlers and preschoolers - and not at all scary.

[Ashley S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of our favorite books to read all year long. With the counting, fun rhyme, and creepy characters, it's always an enjoyable read any time of the year. The colorful and playful illustrations make this story based off a popular song a great reading time.

[Sadina Shawver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great Storytime book! We read this book as part of our Spooky Storywalk in October and by the end all our kiddos were singing along. It was so much fun to watch my coworker sing and march and howl with the kiddos. 10/10 would recommend.

[Emily Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun and cute book! It's a spin on The Ants Go Marching, but much more fun because it's Halloween-themed. I may use this in Storytime as a visual for a song rather than an actual book to read to the children.

[Emily Carlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I love this book so much! I wish I had found it earlier in October. It will make a perfect read aloud next season. Well, actually a perfect sing aloud story! The illustrations are easy going and the text flows, it is so fun!

[Alison N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun song, lovely illustrations and all your favorite monsters showing up for their favorite holiday! A great Halloween read!

[S.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read to the tune of "The ants go marching," this book is a fun, seasonal read

[jstrable · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new Halloween read-aloud/sing-aloud favorite!

[MeganRuth - Alohamora Open a Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great rhythm for this Halloween read.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gentler Halloween book. The illustrations capture all of your typical Halloween characters but with a more muted, whimsical feel. This is a counting book with great rhyme and repetition.

[Cori // ghostlightbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ants Go Marching In but make it SPOOKY!

I loved the illustrations and the spooky update the classic song got in this short and sweet sing-a-long story!

[Villain E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Halloween version of "The Ants Go Marching." Adapted pretty well.

[Ranea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun Halloween Read-Aloud!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is to the tune of The Ants Go Marching.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't normally like books that are based around a familiar tune. But this one I liked. And I think it would be a fun book to sing to little ones.