Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World

Johnny Boo #1

by James Kochalka

Johnny Boo is the best little ghost in the whole world, because he's got Boo Power. This means that he can go "BOO" really loudly. His pet ghost, Squiggle, has Squiggle Power, which means that he can fly and do really fast loop-the-loops. Together they have the world's greatest ghost adventures! When the giant pink and yellow Ice Cream Monster bumbles into their lives, they go into a mad panic... until they discover that he's actually quite friendly.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Childrens, Humor, Fiction, Picture Books, Graphic Novels Comics

40 pages, Hardcover

First published June 10, 2008

About the author

James Kochalka is an American comic book artist and writer, and rock musician. His comics are noted for their blending of the real and the surreal. Largely autobiographical, Kochalka's cartoon expression of the world around him includes such real-life characters as his wife, children, cat, friends and colleagues, but always filtered through his own observations and flights of whimsy. In March 2011 he will be declared the cartoonist laureate of Vermont, serving a term of two years.

Reviews

[teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

so cute, helping me to get out from reading slump🤯

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love James Kochalka! I read this with one of the regular library kids. We usually read Elephant & Piggie together, but that's getting pretty easy for her so I grabbed some level 2 books to sandwich in between some E&P level 1 bread. There are 2 main characters in the Johnny Boo books (Johnny Boo & Squiggle) so you can read it aloud much in the same way you might E&P. There is a monster character in this one, which I regret voicing so enthusiastically because my throat really hurts today.

[Amie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johnny Boo is a happy, little ghost that loves to play with his pet ghost, Squiggle. Squiggle has Squiggle power because he can do loop-de-loops, and Johnny Boo has Boo power because he can yell "BOO!" really loudly. The friends play, get mad at each other for "cheating", and make up in time to go get ice cream. Johnny wants Squiggle to whisper when talking about the ice cream because of the ice cream monster, but the monster finds them anyway. After they realize the monster is nice, they let him come along to get the ice cream, too. Once the ice cream is found though, the monster can't help himself and gobbles it all up and accidentally gobbles Squiggle up with it. Johnny Boo and Squiggle have to use their powers to get out of this sticky situation.

This is a great low fantasy graphic novel for younger readers. It is a simple story about friendship, forgiveness and problem-solving. Although certain elements of the story could never happen in real life, the reader is taken in and can relate to the characters' friendship. The panels are very colorful and easy to follow. Students may need an introduction on how to read graphic novels before trying this one on their own. Also, the font, while a good size, may be challenging for beginning readers. Grades K-3

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a variety of reasons I've read a few of these over the last few months. And I find myself warming to them.

At first read, they feel SO simple as to be unsubstantial. Squiggle and Johnny are simple characters with simple concerns. There is an Ice Cream Monster. The background is strictly grass, hedge, and sky. The characters lead the kids through the story, from the title page to the author verso of the author photo page. Kochalka makes the book form friendly and silly and not intimidating. And when I flip back through the book, there is actually a lot of text. And there are relatively hard words like whisper and squiggle and yoiks!

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny Boo is a starting readers book. Johnny Boo is a ghost whose power is to yell BOO!! His buddy’s name is Squiggles, he does loopy do loops. They run into the Ice Cream Monster and what happens is something I didn’t see.

[Suhasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cutie Boo!

[Seth T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter loves books. She's two-and-a-bit and, beyond an affection for Miyazaki films, her only truly manic love is for books. She will read them by herself but absolutely prefers to have them read to her. She's gone through several favourites, her canon constantly in flux, but right now she seems to be on a bit of a Frog and Toad kick. I tried out Johnny Boo on her and the result was appreciation though not adulation. Mainly, she likes Squiggle well enough and enjoys the voice I give to Ice Cream Monster, but I'm not sure if Johnny Boo will ever be a go-to book in her mind.

The reason this matters, in case you were curious (since I don't usually lead off with my daughter's opinions on books), is that Johnny Boo finds itself pretty squarely aimed at a children's demographic. The book is simple, short, and boasts a ridiculous sort of plot: basically two ghosts argue about their respective abilities, make up over the promise of ice cream, run into an ice cream monster, and then reservedly befriend it. It's slight and unimportant and I probably wouldn't have much of anything to say about the book without dragging my daughter into it.



Johnny Boo features two ghostly protagonists, Johnny Boo and his pet(?) buddy Squiggle. Squiggle, a tiny white ghost shaped like a teardrop, can fly and performs incessant loop-de-loops — a gift he refers to as Squiggle Power. Johnny Boo is gravity-bound and maintains that his Boo Power (the power to say "Boo" loudly) is superior. Their shenanigans are endearing and humourous and overwrought in that way that seems to appeal to young children. A third character, Ice Cream Monster, monopolizes much of the visual real estate of the second half of the book and is characterized primarily by a) his garish pink and yellow colouring and b) his unquenchable love of ice cream (think cookie monster and then switch desserts). I wanted to punch Ice Cream Monster. (Squiggle probably would want to also but he doesn't have hands.)

The illustration is spare in that manner typical of Kochalka's work and the pallet (until the advent of Ice Cream Monster) is almost entirely blue (for the sky) and green (for the grass and bushes) and white (for the ghosts). It's a suitably simple look and allows the young reader to focus on what's important in each scene.



After four readings, my daughter remains noncommittal. She likes Squiggle enough to follow his antics, seemingly ignores Johnny Boo altogether, and knows what's hidden in the pile of dirt on page 21. She might request a reading if that's the book that happens to be in front of her but won't go hunting over the house for the book or ask us to find it for her — as she will with any number of other books that have mysteriously wended their way into her heart(s). I don't mind reading Johnny Boo to her like I do certain annoyances like Go Dog, Go or the revolting New Tricks I Can Do, but missing out on the adventures of Johnny Boo and Squiggle isn't something I'll mourn if she never requests the book again.
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[Review courtesy of Good Ok Bad]

[Kelly Healey · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to read it out loud! I first read it to my son when he was 5 and he laughed the whole way through. My kindergartens and grade ones think it is hysterical. They love all the sound effects. It is a great intro to graphic books. I think part of the appeal is that the dialogue between the 2 main characters, Squiggle and Johnny Boo, sounds just like a couple of primary kids squabbling and making up with each other.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, the kids love this book. However, I find graphic novels annoying to read and the ice cream monster reminds me of Yo Gabba Gabba, which I loathe. If I didn't have to read it out loud, I would probably like it a lot more.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny, adorable graphic novel great for K-2 kids. Ice cream, burping, friendly monsters, and tummy squiggles: what's not to love? Elephant & Piggie fans would probably like this series as well.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Sentence Review: You don't find many graphic novel easy readers out there and I think that this one might be pretty okay, except there's something about it that makes my 30-year-old eyes blur.

[Arwen Ungar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very young readers.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute little children's book! It's about Johnny Boo and his friend Squiggles. They are ghost friends. They are playing tag and Johnny Boo wins by using his "boo power" (saying boo and scaring people). Squiggles is upset so Johnny Boo offers to share his secret ice cream. But then an ice cream monster comes up! Johnny Boo uses his boo power again and scares the monster. Then the ice cream monster becomes their friend so they go to get the secret ice cream. When they do, the ice cream monster eats it all- including Squiggles! So Squiggle uses his squiggle power (doing loops) inside the monsters belly and makes him burp him out. They are happy, but the monster still has the hiccups! So Johnny Boo scares him by saying boo and gets rid of his hiccups, thus earning the title of the best little ghost in the world. This story is so cute and gives a good portrayal of friendship and giving people the benefit of the doubt. Very cute.

[BespectacledBookGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been hearing a lot about James Kochalka since venturing into the world of comics. I didn't realize Johnny Boo is a kids book so the length took me by surprise BUT it was very cute and I am now going to gift this to all my friends with babies or toddlers. Great lessons for wee ones - sharing, playing, etc! I'm going to read a few others, but am not sure how I'll be marking them for my goodreads goal since it took me all of 10 minutes to read this, and in general I don't count single issues of comics. Maybe I'll start doing that, and will increase my goodreads goal by 1 book per every shorty finished to balance it out? Hmm...do you log single issues or super short comics?

[Dylan Bingham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a simple graphic novel about a ghost named Johnny and his friend Squiggle. The illustrations were also simple, mainly consisting of the colors blue, white, and green on every page until the ice cream monster showed up. He stood out on the pages since he was pink and yellow. Not a whole lot happened in the story, but I think it was just the first story in the series and introduced the characters. Children in grades K-2 may like this book with its simplistic humor and could read it during Halloween since it's about ghosts and monsters that are not at all scary.

[Cale · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're over the age of 8, don't bother. This is a very thin story that I can't imagine anyone except pre-K children finding entertaining. Johnny, his pet ghost Squiggle and in ice cream monster engage in banter about burping and whether or not going "Boo" is mean or nice. If you've got a small child not yet reading, I can see them enjoying this as a bed times tory. But I wouldn't recommend it for anyone else.

[Sasha Boersma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect little book for kids around 5-6 years old who struggle to see what's fun about reading. Great visuals to go with the words. Comic book style, if the younger readers have older siblings into comics and want to read comics too.

Message is about friendship and being kind. With boy-ish characters, good for little boys to see themselves in.

[Leslie Sachlis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny and his pet ghost Squiggle play tag. Johnny has Boo Power. Squiggle has Squiggle Power. Squiggle will tell you, you can't catch me!, but Ice Cream Monster can and does! Will Johnny be able to rescue Squiggle? Will Squiggle escape using Squiggle Power? This is Book One of a great graphic novel series for early readers.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and silly story. It reminded me a lot of Ben Clanton’s Narwhal and Jelly series. It has a very silly, exaggerated, and slapstick sense of humor.

But there really just wasn’t much to it. Characters were fun but there wasn’t much story so I can’t bring myself to give it higher than 3.5 stars.

[Gohansquirtle · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Kochalka might have one of the most appealing styles in comics. I can't help but read his stuff and enjoy it. I remember reading a Johnny Boo story when I was younger and thinking it was little kid stuff, but then still reading it because it was such an appealing book. All ages comics really can be for all ages.

[Ellon · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars (It was okay)

Meh. I just wasn't really a fan. Nothing objectionable but nothing in this story really does it for me.

I saw another reviewer write that the appeal is that the characters talk just like two primary kids squabbling between each other. That reviewer is right and I do not find the squabbling endearing haha.

[Adam Sussman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Super surprised this is only a 3.65 rating. Johnny Boo changed my entire view on kid lit. I used to think Mo Willems was peak contemporary kid lit and the man is still a King but Squiggle is the most memorable and lovable character since Sam I Am.

[Mandy Robek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story about friendship and overcoming something you might be scared of.

[Patrick DeRoche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like, it's really cute, buuuuut huh?

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny Boo shows how he's the best little ghost in the world through his friendship with Squiggle, his win-win challenges with the Ice Cream Monster, and his charming Boo Power.

[Megan Wagner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I probably wont read the rest of these... they weren't as awesome as I had hoped!

[Jevgenij · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both me and kids love Johnny Boo. Deducted one star for extremely similar pictures, drawing is certainly lazy. But I like how childish, yet kind and humorous the stories are.

[Mason]

AMRUICA HELL YEA

[Gabs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

[Kylee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute graphic novel I read a school in literally 5 minutes because I was bored 🤷‍♀️ but it was cute