Three Little Ghosties

by Pippa Goodhart, AnnaLaura Cantone (Illustrator)

How much trouble could three harmless little ghosties get into in one night? Plenty! These silly spirits love boasting to each other about who is the scariest. Ghouls, witches, and even a neighborhood ogre all find themselves at the mercy of these naughty ghosties, who spook them with a "woooo, woooo, woooo, BOOOO!" But when the ghosties decide to scare some boys and girls for a change, who will get the biggest fright of all?
This bouncing, rhyming tale by Pippa Goodhart is just the antidote for bedtime jitters and Anna-Laura Cantone's perfectly spooky illustrations will inspire nothing but giggles. Look inside―if you dare!

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Ghosts, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Pippa Goodhart is the author of over a hundred children’s books, including the prize-winning picture book You Choose, and the Winnie the Witch series which she writes under the pen name of Laura Owen. She trained as a teacher and worked for many years in bookselling before becoming a mother and a writer.

See Laura Owen

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun tale told in rhyme about three little ghosts discussing all the victims they've scared, and who will be next on the list . . . but they may be in for a surprise. Cute story, with delightful illustrations by Anna Laura Cantone.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to our trusty Goodreads Blurber, "This bouncing, rhyming tale by Pippa Goodhart is just the antidote for bedtime jitters and Anna-Laura Cantone's perfectly spooky illustrations will inspire nothing but giggles."

Actually, this Goodreads blurber isn't impressed by the combo of baby "ghosties" and a ton of baby talk, such as you'll find in this typical excerpt:

They ghostie-slither-slid
through the window cracksies
and creak-pushed
open my door.

To me, baby talk is for private conversations with your beloved baby (of whatever age). Nor do I think that most discarnate spirits are either cute or endearing or hilarious.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute book my 3 and 6 year olds wanted to read every night. They memorized the first page: "Three little ghosties, sat on their posties, eating burnt toasties, telling big boasties." With silly rhymes and fantastic, quirky pictures, it was easy to read this to them so often. Of course, they also had to join in on all the "Boo"ing in the book. Lots of fun!

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three little ghosts are bragging about how scary they are and how they've frightened a variety of people in different ways. But their bragging goes horribly awry when they get their own fright!

Cute illustrations.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kind of liked the illustrations in this book, but I really didn't like how it went from third person to first person narrative. I also didn't like the adding of cutesy evenings to words to make them rhyme.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little Halloween book. It might prove hard to read for some that do not want to do a "sing-songy" book aloud.

[Marissa Elera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just love ghostie cackling. Storytime gold.

[Bianca Orellana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story with THE MOST ADORABLE word play!

[Sarah W · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kids love this one.

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

After bragging about their past hauntings, three little ghosts decide to go scare a child only to have their plan backfire.

Moral: He who boasts of his accomplishments will heap ridicule on himself.

The rhyme scheme relies on excessive incorrect plurals (-ses and -sties), which is cutesy woosty in a grating sort of way. It also crated the affect of a picture book written by Golem from Lord of the Rings.

[Danni Nemes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story about three young ghosts who get into mischief and play pranks on people around them. A fun book for the spooky season and a sweet book to have as a read aloud.

[Christine Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a good story for very young children around toddler-age. It's not scary, but there is one good moment where you could startle them with the big "BOO!!"

[Rediz]

A silly Halloween book. I would be wary of children learning to speak in the manner that the book does, since words are modified to fit the rhymes at times.

[Maria Basile · Rating 3 out of 5]

Carina la storiella, belle le illustrazioni di Anna Laura Cantone.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Little Ghosties, sitting on posties, tell wild boasties of how they've scared various monsters. But how will they fare when they turn thier talents on children?

This cutesy little 'horror' story with illustrations meant to look like childish doodles deals with fears of things that go bump in the night, and is bound to generate laughs from your toddlers.

I particularly love the use of a wide variaty of hand drawn fonts to respresent the sound of words. It's rhymes, sound words, and onomatopoeia are sure to please the whole family. It's fun story to tell and my kids love making the sounds.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little Hallowe'en book. Of course, it was July when my son picked it out from the library, so they may have tempered my enjoyment of it.

The text is at times a bit of a silly tongue-twister, so I think my son laughed as much at me tripping over the words as he did the actual words themselves. It was still a fun read. I probably would not have chosen to read it out loud for story time at the library, though, unless I was feeling very brave.

The illustrations, like the text, are also are bit ridiculous. But in a fun, good way.

[Annabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

when the 3 little ghosties sneaked up on the boys and girls, i thought they were going to scare the boys and girls, but the boys and girls SCARED the 3 little ghosties the MOST!

also, the 3 little ghosties scared all of the witches and guys, but the 3 little ghosties got the scaredest! and after they got scared, their moms put them in a time out!

[Jenette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three little ghosties sitting around eating their toastie and telling their boasties is very cute. The story has a very funny turn of events at the end. The book is written in a refreshingly down to earth style, simple, and charmingly enjoyable. It is not often that a writing style such as this comes around especially in the realm of Childrens genre.

[Jordan Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that has rhyming and great sound words in it. It would help students with descriptive words and word endings that rhyme. I could read this book aloud and focus on word families, or I could have children do a reader's theatre and have children act out different characters and sounds in the book.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVE this! Three little Ghosts brag to each other in silly rhymes about their haunting successes. But boasting is one thing and actually spooking turns out quite another when all three of them get out-BOOed by one small child! Very entertaining. The kids loved it, and my husband and I are still giggling about it.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about three little ghosts who have gone about frightening different creatures, only to be foiled by one ferocious boy. The ghosties, toasties, posties was a little much, but the overall story and illustrations were nice.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was read at story time today for up coming Halloween. The story tells of the people the ghosts scare, but they get theirs in the end. Our librarian did a great job creating suspense while reading the ending and a couple kids jumped when she said boo.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what I like to call an outstanding read-aloud book. The rhyming is fun and the words are really silly to read. The illustrations are cute and it was Halloweeny enough for my three year old without being too scary.

[Rachael C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for very young children in addition to the stated 3-6 age group. My 3 month old son loves looking at the pictures and hearing me rhyme the words. I believe it's the cadence and the rhyming sounds that really appeal to him.

[Benjamin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

the word formations create a slightly childish, cutesy affectation, but that's obviously what it's going for. The twist ending is fun and could be empowering for a kid who has gotten nervous about the dark or the possibility of scary things coming to get them.

[mindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

we LOVED this book. Julian is going through a "ghostie" phase, so this book was perfect, especially with Halloween coming up. :)

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved using this book to have the kids make "ghostie" noises that get them into their head voice for singing. Plus my kindergarteners love the ending!

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the very European illustration, and the story is funny, too. Gracie and Bridget loved hee-hee-hee-ing with the mischievous ghosties... and gosh, I sure like the name "Pippa Goodhart."

[Megan Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three year old loved this Halloween book!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun rhymes, great illustrations and it made me laugh.