The Ghost in the Attic

by Mamiko Shiotani

There is a ghost living in the attic of an old house without going outside at all. One day, attracted by the beautiful moon, the ghost goes out of the attic and flies in the sky. Then, the next day, the little girl living in the house visits the ghost's attic...

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Halloween, Friendship, Ghosts, Supernatural

Hardcover

Published May 13, 2020

Reviews

[Jason Waltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

very cute ghost story about loneliness, introversion, friendship, and bravery

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mamiko Shiotani has outdone herself with her largely gray illustrations in her debut The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs. The dark depictions of the ghost’s rejoicing in his isolated existence until a brave little girl begins spending every day in the ghost’s dusty attic. I won’t ruin the ending, but children and their grownups alike will enjoy what happens to these two little souls.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Publisher Spotlight and Floris Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I review books as a retired teacher and/or librarian of nearly 30 years but this particular review will be done in two parts, one from the perspectives shared by my 4 and 7 year grandboys.

The boys report loving this book (and listening to it 3 times and the older reading once on his own) and say:
*The pictures are so cool because they have so many things in them like all the stuff in the ghost’s attic and in the girl’s room. (7 yr old)
*I like how all the ghost stuff was black and white and creepy and the girl and her room was in all colors, but the ghost wasn’t really creepy but the black makes you think he is. (7 yr old)
*The ghost only thought he was happy but then he met the girl and was really happy. (7 yr old)
*The ghost wasn’t scary; he was nice. (4 yr old)
*I want a friend that is a ghost. (4 yr old)

My 7 year old covered much of what I loved about this not scary at all ghost story. As he stated, the use of color was an excellent touch and added much to the tone/mood of the two characters. Teachers of young children can use this picture book as a segue into conversations about friendship and giving others a chance as well as adding it to their arsenal of books about facing fears. The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs makes a great alternative to more traditional and possibly frightening Halloween books.

Thanks for providing an eARC, Floris Books

[Beau Manglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am reviewing a digital ARC I received via NetGalley.

In Shiotani's The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs, a little ghost who is accustomed to spending time alone in his attic must confront the idea of getting to know someone new when a girl in his house catches a glimpse of him and comes investigating. He first tries to dissuade her using typical scary apparition behavior, such as making objects move, but she remains unafraid and undeterred. Only when he is forced to venture to her room in an attempt to terrify her even more does he realize that spending time with someone else can enrich one's life, not just threaten it.

Shiotani's charcoal pencil illustrations are perfect for settings like a dark attic filled with mystery objects and for the little ghost himself, who changes in size and shape depending on his actions and is dynamically depicted. The art really heightens the tone and richness of this work.

This is a lovely picture book that balances humor and sincerity. I would recommend it for any juvenile collection.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute book with cool visual effects for the illustrations. The titular grumpy ghost, however, was not that grumpy after all!

[The Perennial Parent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little story. My five year old loves ghosts but we get tired of the traditional trick-or-treat style ones and this book was basically about someone who values their alone time and then gets grumpy when someone new shows up but discovers they can make a new friend and still have their alone time... and one of those someones is a Ghost. I was fortunate enough to be given an advanced copy of this book and I can't wait to buy the physical copy.

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs is a stunning picture book by Mamiko Shiotani. We meet a ghost who enjoys his solitary existence living in the attic. All of this changes when a curious little girl stumbles upon his home. Our grump ghost tries many tactics to scare her off, but what unfolds is a sweet and surprising story of friendship.


What I liked: The story has an important message that though change can be scary, it can also be rewarding. I can see parents and educators using this book to show that change and friendship should be embraced, not feared. What truly sets this book apart, however, are the charcoal illustrations. They are more than just pictures; they are an integral part of the storytelling, making the attic setting and characters come alive.

The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs is a heartwarming book with exquisite illustrations that young readers will adore.

This review first appeared on YA Books Central and can be found here: https://yabookscentral.com/the-grumpy...

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shy, grumpy little ghost lives alone in an attic, happily enjoying his solitude. One night, in a moment of courage, he flies out his attic window, swooping in the dark sky, certain that no one can see him. But someone does – the little girl who lives in his house and she decides to investigate. The ghost tries to scare her off, but the brave girl is persistent. His antics escalate until eventually they meet, forming a friendship. Then the grumpy ghost realizes he doesn't feel quite so grumpy anymore. This sweet book speaks to introverts of all ages, honoring the desire for solitude, while opening the door to the power of friendships. The beautiful, subtle artwork has the appearance of pencil shading, capturing the look of moody moonlight and the transparent ghost. The book was originally published in Japan, but both the young girl and the home she lives in have a multicultural look that could be from anywhere. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[KaysKillerReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been searching for children’s books with a slightly spooky vibe that don’t feel overly silly or cartoonish. Since I’m a big horror fan, my 3-year-old has naturally shown interest in stories with ghosts and “scary” characters, but most options out there are either too colorful or too childish in tone.

This book turned out to be a fantastic find. The story follows a ghost who’s been alone for a long time and is frightened when a little girl suddenly appears in his space. What seems scary at first transforms into something sweet, as the girl only wants to be friends. It’s a thoughtful way of showing kids that sometimes the things we find scary really aren’t so frightening after all.

The artwork is lovely and fits the tone perfectly, and the length is just right for a bedtime story. It’s engaging enough to feel complete, but short enough to hold my toddler’s attention. My son really enjoyed it, and I did too.

Overall, it’s a charming, slightly spooky but heartwarming read that’s perfect for introducing young kids to ghost stories without actually scaring them.

[Cathy Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aww, this book is so cute. It reminds me of the Monsters, Inc. movie. A solitary ghost just wants to hang out by himself and do ghost things, but he ends up making a new friend. I feel like this would be a great book to teach young kids that you can treasure your alone time and also enjoy friendships (and personally as an introvert who needs my space but also sometimes gets a little lonely, I feel this). There's also maybe a mild lesson here about stereotypes -- the ghost assuming the girl will be afraid of him, but she takes it in stride, completely unfazed.

I loved the illustrations and feel that the muted, dark colors and grainy texture perfectly reflect and enhance the somber, quiet mood of the book. The 2-page spread showing the ghost frame-by-frame thinking hard and sinking down into himself made me chuckle. Little details in the illustrations were cute, too (e.g., the ghost being transparent). The ghost is depicted as such a cute form that I don't think this book would be scary at all for very young kids.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Floris Books through the PW Grab a Galley Summer 2025.
Readers meet a ghost who is happy to be alone in his attic. He plays and explores and longs to venture beyond his space. When he builds up the courage to leave, he loves it. However a young girl sees him and this will change his life. She wants to meet him so comes up to the attic. The ghost didn't know what to do with this new situation. We see him try all sorts of tricks to chase her away and regain his peace. But, she isn't frightened and invites him to play in her room too. He discovers that change can be good and he can still find time for his needed alone time.
I appreciate the background details that add so much to this story. The ghost's expressions capture the emotions he feels (with just his eyes) which allows readers to feel they are part of the book too.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

The moody, somewhat somber and slightly intimidating charcoal illustrations fit this story with an unexpected ending perfectly. The plot concerns a ghost who enjoys its solitude. He never ventures from the attic until one day he yields to the impulse to leave the house and fly. When a small girl disturbs his domain, he haunts her, trying, but failing, to frighten her. In fact, she's known about him all along, and an unlikely friendship forms. The book's last lines are everything, reassuring readers that not everything that seems strange and frightening may not be so. Educators and parents might want to share this picture book with youngsters as a gentle reminder that friendship can be found in unexpected places and ways and that they need not fear something that seems scary.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boo-tifully illustrated. Marvelously kid-friendly. This translation brings all the charm of a golden-age picture book into the present with its intricate backgrounds, delicious textural art, and smart use of value and limited color. The main character is quirky and likable. His problems are relatable to young children everywhere. The text is smart and subtly funny. I laughed out loud in delight. The message of friendship is evergreen, and the english version of the text, though a touch stiff to American picture book readers, is clever enough to make up for any shortcomings. I book you'll want to explore through multiple readings. I received an advanced digital copy of this book for review. It releases August 2025.

[Bexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little ghost has enjoyed his alone time in the attic. He has many adventures, but it does get a little boring. One day he decides to go out, but this brings someone up to the attic. Little ghost doesn't want to share his attic, it's his space, but this new visitor doesn't seem willing to leave his space alone. He tries all the things he knows to scare her away, but she refuses to leave. He decides that he's going to visit her, and in visiting he gets a friend. A sweet story about doing things that might scare you and the joys that can come with that.

ARC provided by publisher and Edelweiss.

[L.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs is a fun, cozy picture book with just the right mix of spooky and sweet. The hand-drawn charcoal illustrations are full of detail, capturing the attic’s clutter and curiosities.

I giggled the whole way through, but what really stayed with me was the message: the innocence of children can soften even the grumpiest spirit, and shyness or fear of the unknown can be eased with kindness.

A playful seasonal read, perfect for sharing at bedtime or anytime.

Thanks to NetGalley, Publisher Spotlight, and Floris Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Christa Thrasher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way the illustrations are done with limited color, and they look pencil drawn.
The little ghost upstairs loves his life in the attic all alone. But one day he finds that he has a visitor, and he is not happy about it. He tries to scare her, but it doesn't work. He's more afraid of her than she is of him. So one day he decides to visit her room to scare her off, and she is excited to see him. And he ends up enjoying visiting his new friend.
This is a great for kids that are shy about making friends. Also, great for introverts to remind them it's ok to love their alone time, but also get out once in a while with friends.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little ghost in the attic is very happy to spend their time alone. That way, they can swoop, fly, and do whatever they want. But one day, a new little person comes into their attic, and refuses to be afraid of the little ghost.
As the little ghost tries to get rid of their new guest, they are going to learn that some don't scare easily, but maybe it is good to just confront their own fears.

Super cute little read! This is a sweet way to learn to confront their fears, and maybe get a new friend in the process.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how everything in the attic is in black and white, except the little girl that visits the attic and that everything outside of the attic is bright and colorful.
Were things dark in the attic because the ghost had closed itself off to the outside world and the attic was a reflection of their feelings?
I love that the young girl was able to bring the ghost out of their comfort zone and helped them to remember that they can find happiness.
A cute book for young readers and a reminder to older readers to find your happiness.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a few other ghost stories for children that I like a touch more but this one has the ironic moment in which our grumpy ghost in the attic enjoys his quiet, alone time until a kid interrupts that. So the ghost decides to scare the girl who isn't scared at all but decides that he should leave his attic and they can play together.

The art and the story work well. I really enjoyed the art. Great for a spooky (but not too spooky) read for the season.

[Amber Wessies Owrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short picture book about a ghost who loves being alone until he realizes new things aren't as scary as they seem. A look at how some emotions are fueled by other emotions such as grumpiness could be the result of fear.
The ghost is cute but I didn't like the illustration of the little girl as much.

Thank you Edelweiss, PW Grab-a-Galley, and Floris Press for the eARC.

[Pamela Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful! I smiled through the whole book! The Grumpy Ghost likes being alone in his attic. He can swoop all he wants. But then a young girl visits his attic and he gets grumpy about it. But sometimes things that seem scary really aren't. A charming storyline with adorable illustrations. The ghost, particularly, is really cute.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet read with a nice message about friendship. The illustrations were also really nice. A nice not so scary October eve read with my 5 year old. She enjoyed it but I think this one may cater more to under 5 as it’s pretty short. Thank you to the Author and Publisher Spotlight via NetGalley for the eARC!

[JWPreK · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this 'creepy' ghost story. The illustrations perfectly set the mood of the story. The use of black and white and then color mirrors the story perfectly. There is much to explore in the details of the pages. The conclusion, that scary things are worth the risk, is uplifting.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in Japan in 2020 and translated intoEnglish in 2025, the story is about a rather docile ghost living in the attic and a young girl living in the house and what occurs when they begin to enter each other’s space. Illustrations were hand drawn in charcoal pencil.

[Jourdain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spooky cute book about a ghost who wants nothing else but to be left alone, only to discover having a friend isn't as bad as it seems. The illustrations are beautiful and I love how some of the writing is displayed. Love it! Thanks NetGalley.

[Laurel Zeisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was delightful. I loved the end paper illustrations. Actually, all the illustrations were great. I enjoyed the story too. My only critique is that the font on the words was too small. I highly recommend this book.

[Elizabeth (Miss Eliza) · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about the wonders that await if you step outside your comfort zone. What really sets this book apart is Mamiko Shiotani's evocative charcoal pencil illustrations of her Casper-esque ghost. I also appreciated the Ghostbusters poster and The Police album in the attic.

[Emmy P · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute little quip, this Grumpy Ghost ARC is a sweet stunningly illustrated moment full of that feeling of hiding away in the dark. We can all relate to wondering what goes bump in the night, and perhaps now we know. 🤭

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun twist for a book about what happens when a ghost and a child meet face to face! I love the illustrations and the mostly gray and white palette with small splashes of color. This will be a great book to read aloud and talk about!

[Alisha (booksmellz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little ghost lives in the attic of a big house. He’s alone, but that’s just how he likes it. One day, a curious young girl begins hanging out in the attic, disturbing the ghost’s peace and quiet. Since she won’t leave the ghost alone, he decides to do what ghosts do best: haunt.

What a great book to talk about the importance of change and embracing new friendships

With artwork reminiscent of Brian Selznick, readers of all ages are bound to giggle at this grumpy ghost’s antics.