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Ghosts
Who stole the last square of toilet paper? Who cracked the eggs in the fridge? Who made your toast land butter-side down?
Easy. It was ghosts. Tiny ones. Sad ones. Ninja ones. Even ghost cats (they’re jerks).
From Australian author Fiona Dalwood comes Ghosts, a wildly funny picture book that gives delightfully spooky (but totally silly) explanations for everyday mysteries.
With dry wit, charming rhythm, and a big dollop of imagination, Ghosts turns the strange things kids notice into hilarious little hauntings.
Perfect for fans of The Book With No Pictures, Creepy Carrots, or This Is a Ball, this read-aloud favourite will have kids giggling and parents saying, “Honestly? That explains a lot.”
For ages 3-8. Great for bedtime, Halloween, or any kid who loves the weird side of life.
24 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2024
16 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Dalwood
1 book1 followerAuthor/Illustrator of Ghosts - a dryly hilarious picture book that blames life’s minor mysteries on bored, dramatic, and oddly specific ghosts.
Fiona Dalwood is an Australian artist and film-maker with a passion for creativity and a flair for the unusual. Her award winning stop-motion animated short ‘Good Grief ’ has screened to film festivals across the world.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her young daughter and a cranky old cat.
Fiona Dalwood is an Australian artist and film-maker with a passion for creativity and a flair for the unusual. Her award winning stop-motion animated short ‘Good Grief ’ has screened to film festivals across the world.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her young daughter and a cranky old cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 16, 2024
Beautiful book
Just read this to my little boy and it's a beautiful book.
Gorgeous illustrations with a really playful theme and really well written.
One that both parents and children alike can appreciate.
Just read this to my little boy and it's a beautiful book.
Gorgeous illustrations with a really playful theme and really well written.
One that both parents and children alike can appreciate.
September 19, 2024
Very cute picture book with adorable artwork.
Not much to it; every day happenings are explained by ghost being mischievous. Nice quick story perfect for the kids.
Not much to it; every day happenings are explained by ghost being mischievous. Nice quick story perfect for the kids.
October 30, 2025
An Okay Book But Does Make You Pause A Bit
Ghosts is a formulaic question-and-response book that tries to capture new explanations for daily stuff we may see but not really know the detailed response to. And really, would you want a lengthy yet speculative look into why your eggs may be cracked, or is it more whimsical to think there are ghostly bloody hens haunting egg cartons?
Most pages pose a question about one of these daily occurrences before the author offers the fact they know the answer, followed by the answer with a bit of an explanation. And some answers should make your heart to soften a bit (tiny ghosts in socks) or wonder why, especially ghosts would weep in public bathrooms.
The illustrations are whimsical and stick to the color palette as seen on the cover. And the ghosts themselves are a mix of typical bedsheet ghosts with some form to them.
All in all, it was cute and not very challenging but could be used by adult readers to encourage younger readers to add their own explanations to extend the story a bit.
Ghosts is a formulaic question-and-response book that tries to capture new explanations for daily stuff we may see but not really know the detailed response to. And really, would you want a lengthy yet speculative look into why your eggs may be cracked, or is it more whimsical to think there are ghostly bloody hens haunting egg cartons?
Most pages pose a question about one of these daily occurrences before the author offers the fact they know the answer, followed by the answer with a bit of an explanation. And some answers should make your heart to soften a bit (tiny ghosts in socks) or wonder why, especially ghosts would weep in public bathrooms.
The illustrations are whimsical and stick to the color palette as seen on the cover. And the ghosts themselves are a mix of typical bedsheet ghosts with some form to them.
All in all, it was cute and not very challenging but could be used by adult readers to encourage younger readers to add their own explanations to extend the story a bit.
July 30, 2025
We listen and we don’t judge;
I wanted a cute book to help cleanse my reading slump.
It worked .
Forgetting the fact that I’m a 27 year old reading a children’s book, this was adorable and the artwork is right up my alley <3
Extra points for the way it puts you in a Cozy Fall Mood & the Ghost Cat making the toast pop out right onto the floor
👻🐈⬛🍁🍂
I wanted a cute book to help cleanse my reading slump.
It worked .
Forgetting the fact that I’m a 27 year old reading a children’s book, this was adorable and the artwork is right up my alley <3
Extra points for the way it puts you in a Cozy Fall Mood & the Ghost Cat making the toast pop out right onto the floor
👻🐈⬛🍁🍂
July 21, 2025
A really cute ghost book
A really cute story about ghosts. I picked this book to fill a prompt in the 52 Book Club Challenge w025.
A really cute story about ghosts. I picked this book to fill a prompt in the 52 Book Club Challenge w025.
July 18, 2025
me and my friend saw this in the bookshop and it was so cute and wholesome and funny and sad! ghost cats are jerks so true 👻👻
February 6, 2025
This book is absolutely adorable! It made my 3 yr old and I chuckle way too much! It’s a short quick read but the illustrations are just too much and too cute 🥹 The concepts are also super fun.
I am thinking I might put this books excuse of ghosts to use the next time my boss asks why something went wrong at work…kidding kidding but I’m tempted haha. My daughter adamantly and enthusiastically declared “5!” When I asked how many stars and said “I love that book, it’s so silly!” and my adult self agrees and thinks that’s a pretty accurate review.
I am thinking I might put this books excuse of ghosts to use the next time my boss asks why something went wrong at work…kidding kidding but I’m tempted haha. My daughter adamantly and enthusiastically declared “5!” When I asked how many stars and said “I love that book, it’s so silly!” and my adult self agrees and thinks that’s a pretty accurate review.
July 3, 2025
absolutely charming
You see something a little strange. What could have caused it?
Ghosts.
I smiled through this whole book. The text is straightforward and clever. The illustrations are a delight. Highly recommend.
You see something a little strange. What could have caused it?
Ghosts.
I smiled through this whole book. The text is straightforward and clever. The illustrations are a delight. Highly recommend.
July 2, 2025
Good book!
This is a short, fun book. Well written and well drawn. Children will enjoy it. Love the surprise at the end!
This is a short, fun book. Well written and well drawn. Children will enjoy it. Love the surprise at the end!
September 18, 2024
Charming and whimsical and beautifully illustrated
Gorgeous illustrations, simple reading, funny.
This book made me laugh out loud. Its simple and unique theme gives a a lovely pathway to play with ideas of why weird little things might happen when spending time with a little one (or big one or yourself to be honest!).
Gorgeous illustrations, simple reading, funny.
This book made me laugh out loud. Its simple and unique theme gives a a lovely pathway to play with ideas of why weird little things might happen when spending time with a little one (or big one or yourself to be honest!).
October 16, 2024
A Spooktacular Story!
Such a cute, imaginative, and funny story! My little cousins loved reading it. The illustrations are amazing; great attention to detail. I recommend this spooky and entertaining book to all children, especially for Halloween! 🎃👻🍂🍁📚
Such a cute, imaginative, and funny story! My little cousins loved reading it. The illustrations are amazing; great attention to detail. I recommend this spooky and entertaining book to all children, especially for Halloween! 🎃👻🍂🍁📚
December 25, 2024
short, funny, and adorable
I don’t usually buy kids books anymore because my daughter is 11, but I loved the cover and we both love cats. We read it together and both laughed a lot. It has beautiful illustrations and silly humor
I don’t usually buy kids books anymore because my daughter is 11, but I loved the cover and we both love cats. We read it together and both laughed a lot. It has beautiful illustrations and silly humor
January 1, 2025
Ghosts is a graphic novel with a very unique art style that really captured the essence of the book. The story was short (it's only downside) and silly, and I'm sure I'll find joy in seeing remnants of ghosts out in the real world.
I am looking forward to future releases of this author.
I am looking forward to future releases of this author.
October 3, 2025
great fun reading it
This book is a lot of fun and answered many questions that I had about our world. You just never know who or what is responsible. Well now I know thanks to this book.
This book is a lot of fun and answered many questions that I had about our world. You just never know who or what is responsible. Well now I know thanks to this book.
September 20, 2024
Cute
Cute children's book about ghost doing ghostly things,not scary at all, the buttered bread gave us a laugh it was good fun
Cute children's book about ghost doing ghostly things,not scary at all, the buttered bread gave us a laugh it was good fun
October 2, 2024
So cute and sweet.
January 3, 2025
So cute and funny!
January 19, 2025
Cute little story!
As a teacher I love this story for fall/Halloween reading!
The kids love the illustrations and the story is fun for them!
As a teacher I love this story for fall/Halloween reading!
The kids love the illustrations and the story is fun for them!
April 8, 2025
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: Ghosts
Author: Fiona Dalwood
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 4/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
14 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This story is all about naughty ghosts and what they get up. I thought it was funny and sweet. The pics look cool too!” Girl, aged 8
“I now know why odd things happen in my house This is such a clever story. It’s not scary and the illustrations look amazing. I understood all of it. I think lots of 7 and 8 year olds will love this book.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from mum
“What a sweet book for young children. Funny, wonderfully illustrated, accessible – the perfect bedtime read..” Primary school teacher, aged 58
“Now I know why ghosts stay – they want to get up to naughty stuff. I think kids will enjoy this book the most. Saying that, my dad liked it too!” Girl, aged 7 – with a little help from her teacher
To Sum It Up:
‘A smartly plotted, vibrantly illustrated, ‘ghostly’ picturebook for 6 – 8 year olds – and possibly even older. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: Ghosts
Author: Fiona Dalwood
Star Rating: 5 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 10/10
Writing Style: 10/10
Content: 9/10
Cover: 4/5
Of the 15 readers:
15 would read another book by this author.
14 thought the cover was good or excellent.
15 felt it was easy to follow.
15 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
15 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“This story is all about naughty ghosts and what they get up. I thought it was funny and sweet. The pics look cool too!” Girl, aged 8
“I now know why odd things happen in my house This is such a clever story. It’s not scary and the illustrations look amazing. I understood all of it. I think lots of 7 and 8 year olds will love this book.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from mum
“What a sweet book for young children. Funny, wonderfully illustrated, accessible – the perfect bedtime read..” Primary school teacher, aged 58
“Now I know why ghosts stay – they want to get up to naughty stuff. I think kids will enjoy this book the most. Saying that, my dad liked it too!” Girl, aged 7 – with a little help from her teacher
To Sum It Up:
‘A smartly plotted, vibrantly illustrated, ‘ghostly’ picturebook for 6 – 8 year olds – and possibly even older. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
October 22, 2024
Ghosts, written and illustrated by Fiona Dalwood
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For transparency reasons, I'll disclose the fact that I'm doing this review to enter its corresponding giveaway. However, that didn't stop me from genuinely enjoying the book!
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Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-
Likes:
•As an artist, there's nothing that I appreciate more than all sorts of art, especially drawings, my specialty. Each drawing told its own story, and truly felt alive. I love the way that the artist drew the ghosts; they turned out so cute!
•I like the format of each page, where the author asks the reader why something happens, and answers it with a supernatural explanation. I imagine that in younger classes, it'll reach a point, where the kids say it along with the storyteller.
•Even though it generally follows this format, I like the little breaks in this formula, like with a ghost cat knocking bread over, and a dog using their laser eyes to make holes in cheese!
-
This is an adorable book, and I recommend it to younger fans of the supernatural, and ghost enthusiasts alike!
-
For transparency reasons, I'll disclose the fact that I'm doing this review to enter its corresponding giveaway. However, that didn't stop me from genuinely enjoying the book!
-
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
-
Likes:
•As an artist, there's nothing that I appreciate more than all sorts of art, especially drawings, my specialty. Each drawing told its own story, and truly felt alive. I love the way that the artist drew the ghosts; they turned out so cute!
•I like the format of each page, where the author asks the reader why something happens, and answers it with a supernatural explanation. I imagine that in younger classes, it'll reach a point, where the kids say it along with the storyteller.
•Even though it generally follows this format, I like the little breaks in this formula, like with a ghost cat knocking bread over, and a dog using their laser eyes to make holes in cheese!
-
This is an adorable book, and I recommend it to younger fans of the supernatural, and ghost enthusiasts alike!
October 17, 2025
Four Year Old Enjoyed this Book
I have read this book to my four-year-old twice, and each time, he loved it. We loved zooming in on the pictures and talking about them. We related to a couple of the scenarios and realized that, in fact, the ghost was doing the things that we just couldn’t explain. He also got a real kick out of the last image.
I have read this book to my four-year-old twice, and each time, he loved it. We loved zooming in on the pictures and talking about them. We related to a couple of the scenarios and realized that, in fact, the ghost was doing the things that we just couldn’t explain. He also got a real kick out of the last image.
December 27, 2024
So short does it even count as a book? But it is, its a cute little childrens' book that's just fun. The summary is definitely overselling it. However, it was free on Kindle this week, and features beautiful illustrations including a cat-ghost which you know is the reason I got it 😆
December 29, 2025
A silly Halloween story about the ghosts who cause all the tricks. Sneakers hanging off a telephone wire? Ghosts! Stuff crashing to the ground, especially buttered toast? Cat ghosts.
Fun drawings. A cute and non-scary story for little kids and anyone else that enjoys the spooky season.
Fun drawings. A cute and non-scary story for little kids and anyone else that enjoys the spooky season.
October 25, 2024
Four stars simply for the ghost cat. Cute.
December 24, 2024
This is such a cute picture book that solves so many mysteries in life, though not what happens to the odd socks... lol
A fun story that kids and parents will love
A fun story that kids and parents will love
December 26, 2024
This is adorable.
August 16, 2025
cute!!
I liked the whimsy! So cute <3 <3 <3 >.< <3 <3 <3 Do try it! It’s so very lovely.
I liked the whimsy! So cute <3 <3 <3 >.< <3 <3 <3 Do try it! It’s so very lovely.
September 15, 2025
Read with my kids! Beautiful illustrations and silly ghosts! 👻
September 18, 2025
"It's always ghosts."
Length: Snack-sized
Price: Kindle freebie
Art: Cute, engaging
Writing: Creative, witty, fun
Ending: Neat, satisfying
Length: Snack-sized
Price: Kindle freebie
Art: Cute, engaging
Writing: Creative, witty, fun
Ending: Neat, satisfying
July 8, 2025
Cute. Things that make you go hmmm.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews