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Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol #1
The Haunted House Next Door
Meet Desmond Cole! A fearless eight-year-old who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Oh, and he just so happens to be my new best friend…and thank goodness! Because I’m afraid of everything.
Welcome to Kersville, a town with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-makers. Most kids spend their days without ever seeing or dealing with a ghost, but some kids get stuck with a haunt. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol. Desmond is the hall monitor of ghosts and monsters. There’s no job too spooky, icky, or risky for Desmond.
I’m not like that at all. My name’s Andres Miedoso. I’m Desmond’s best friend. We do everything together…including catch ghosts. Seems cool, right? There’s only one problem: I’m afraid of everything.
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.
Welcome to Kersville, a town with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-makers. Most kids spend their days without ever seeing or dealing with a ghost, but some kids get stuck with a haunt. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol. Desmond is the hall monitor of ghosts and monsters. There’s no job too spooky, icky, or risky for Desmond.
I’m not like that at all. My name’s Andres Miedoso. I’m Desmond’s best friend. We do everything together…including catch ghosts. Seems cool, right? There’s only one problem: I’m afraid of everything.
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.
128 pages, Paperback
First published December 12, 2017
57 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Andrés Miedoso
69 books43 followersAndres Miedoso is still afraid of everything as a grown-up, even after all his adventures with Desmond Cole. He lives in New York City with his family, and he remains best friends with Desmond but returns to Kersville only when he's needed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
December 30, 2022
This was such a freaking cute read. I know that the kids at the library love it, so I wanted to give it a try and it didn't disappoint.
The Haunted House Next Door is the very first book in the Desmond Cole series (it's currently at 18 books). Unlike the name of the series, the actual story follows a young boy by the name of Andres who moves into a new house in Desmond's neighborhood. At first, Andres tries to keep his distance from Desmond because he believes that Desmond is strange. However, before he knows it, he needs Desmond's assistance to help deal with a little problem AKA a ghost.
What Worked: So many things worked in this book! I can see why it has such great appeal amongst younger elementary readers. The story itself is fascinating and then the artwork just made the story even more fun. This is definitely for younger readers who enjoy longer books or reluctant readers who need just a tad more encouragement. The addition of the illustrations provide a certain level of comfort that transitional readers may need. Naturally, it was a quick read for me as an adult but I didn't enjoy it any less than. The contrasting between Desmond and Andres as characters was also something that I enjoyed about the text. They are polar opposites in terms of interests and they balance each other out. There is plenty of humor as well some gross moments that kids will enjoy.
Overall, I'm invested in finishing this series out. They are quick reads and fun. I definitely could see my own child reading this one when she gets older.
The Haunted House Next Door is the very first book in the Desmond Cole series (it's currently at 18 books). Unlike the name of the series, the actual story follows a young boy by the name of Andres who moves into a new house in Desmond's neighborhood. At first, Andres tries to keep his distance from Desmond because he believes that Desmond is strange. However, before he knows it, he needs Desmond's assistance to help deal with a little problem AKA a ghost.
What Worked: So many things worked in this book! I can see why it has such great appeal amongst younger elementary readers. The story itself is fascinating and then the artwork just made the story even more fun. This is definitely for younger readers who enjoy longer books or reluctant readers who need just a tad more encouragement. The addition of the illustrations provide a certain level of comfort that transitional readers may need. Naturally, it was a quick read for me as an adult but I didn't enjoy it any less than. The contrasting between Desmond and Andres as characters was also something that I enjoyed about the text. They are polar opposites in terms of interests and they balance each other out. There is plenty of humor as well some gross moments that kids will enjoy.
Overall, I'm invested in finishing this series out. They are quick reads and fun. I definitely could see my own child reading this one when she gets older.
July 2, 2022
A great book for a 2nd-3rd grade classroom. My students loved it! It was funny, had some bathroom humor (which kids just love), a fun ghost, and many chances for predicting, inferencing, finding cause & effect, as well as lots of engagement! I had students put themselves in the book as a character when we finished reading. Loved what they came up with!
July 17, 2023
Super cute and funny children series that I read along with my nephews.
June 25, 2019
Great, accessible bridge-level book.
This fit right into my elementary school tour line-up. I'm always looking for a high-appeal bridge chapter book, and it's always good to take some J-level horror. There are a couple of scenes in here that gave me the shivers, and I liked the Ghostbusters-like elements. The size, shape, illustrations, and font all ramp up its accessibility to early elementary readers.
I loved that the plot featured characters of color. I wish, however, that it had not been published with a pseudonym, as this masks the identity of the author, and as such, whether or not it is #ownvoices. Which leads me to believe it is not. Which is a major ding against it. Losing a star for that.
This fit right into my elementary school tour line-up. I'm always looking for a high-appeal bridge chapter book, and it's always good to take some J-level horror. There are a couple of scenes in here that gave me the shivers, and I liked the Ghostbusters-like elements. The size, shape, illustrations, and font all ramp up its accessibility to early elementary readers.
I loved that the plot featured characters of color. I wish, however, that it had not been published with a pseudonym, as this masks the identity of the author, and as such, whether or not it is #ownvoices. Which leads me to believe it is not. Which is a major ding against it. Losing a star for that.
December 1, 2022
I like when the ghost threw up on the brand-new sofa. It was funny.
July 1, 2018
This will make a great starting point on a ladder for striving middle grade readers. For those who are building their stamina for reading longer novels and those who want to read creepy ghost stories who aren't quite ready, they could start here!
November 17, 2018
this book is about one of the main charters living in a haunted house.I rated it three stars because I
liked it but the story was not very long and they just said go away ghost and the ghost went away they did not even fight and have a huge epic fight and there is a lot of ghost.
liked it but the story was not very long and they just said go away ghost and the ghost went away they did not even fight and have a huge epic fight and there is a lot of ghost.
March 26, 2025
A kid moves into a new neighborhood, and meets his new neighbor, who is something of a ghost breaker. The kid doesn't believe in ghosts, until...
Entertaining.
Entertaining.
April 19, 2018
Moving to a new town is never all too easy. It’s something that Andres has gotten used to though since his scientist parents have a top-secret job working for the government. They move all the time! Andres just wants life to be normal. The town of Kersville is no ordinary place though. When some rather strange, unexplained things begin to happen in his new home, Andres realizes that he just might need the services of the kooky kid he met who lives next door, Desmond Cole of Ghost Patrol. The two become fast friends as they begin their first ghostly adventure. Who said things had to be normal?
This first book in the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series is sure to be a hit with my students. It is the perfect introduction to a book that is just a little bit spooky, mixed with a healthy dose of humor and just enough ick, slime, and goo to please every reader. I really appreciate the balance of text and illustrations and am confident that this will be popular among our emergent chapter book readers and veterans alike. The illustrations are awesomely appealing and I can see even my most reluctant readers being drawn to it. I liken this series to another favorite of ours, The Notebook of Doom by Troy Cummings. I can’t wait to add each one of the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol books to my library for my students to enjoy. It’s just what we’ve been looking for.
The Haunted House Next Door
Andres Miedoso
This first book in the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol series is sure to be a hit with my students. It is the perfect introduction to a book that is just a little bit spooky, mixed with a healthy dose of humor and just enough ick, slime, and goo to please every reader. I really appreciate the balance of text and illustrations and am confident that this will be popular among our emergent chapter book readers and veterans alike. The illustrations are awesomely appealing and I can see even my most reluctant readers being drawn to it. I liken this series to another favorite of ours, The Notebook of Doom by Troy Cummings. I can’t wait to add each one of the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol books to my library for my students to enjoy. It’s just what we’ve been looking for.
The Haunted House Next Door
Andres Miedoso 
April 13, 2018
Cute, quick read. My 7-year-old son will love this.
September 24, 2021
We are actually working our way through the whole series as part of our bedtime reading. It’s a fun premise and actually quite light (not scary). In fact the main character, a boy named Andres is scared of a lot of things, but his and Desmond’s encounters with ghosts and goblins always turn out benign.
We read this to JP at bedtime; it’s at a reading level that probably a tad on the east side for him.
We read this to JP at bedtime; it’s at a reading level that probably a tad on the east side for him.
April 22, 2020
I liked the silverware man because he was super big. My favorite character was Desmond Cole because he had lots of cool gadgets.
January 18, 2022
I liked it. I think it was a good book. I'm excited to read the next one.
December 28, 2023
This series is right up Elliot's alley, and the combo of spooky-but-turns-out-fine is the right sort of spooky for bedtime.
January 25, 2025
Its funny when the ghost burrrrrrrrrps.
September 8, 2024
Reading this series with my son. He really enjoys this series.
December 17, 2025
This was okay. I know it's for early readers, but I still felt like it could have been more substantial.
August 2, 2018
Ghosts, friendship, and wonderful illustrations! Just be careful of lasagne!
Yep, even in my books I am seeking out the ghosts! I believe I saw this one being promoted on Twitter and reading a short excerpt on Amazon made me want to read it. Thankfully Amazon delivers pretty fast and so I could read it without much delay.
Meet Andres, he just moved away (again it seems) and he isn't happy with it all. Not to mention that his mom is trying to get him a friend (mom, please). Oh, and did I mention the floating stuff in his house? Or the cold breath? Yep, if Andres didn't think it was terrible enough to move all the time and get used to yet another environment, he now has a ghost living in his home.
But no worries, his new friend (or soon to be best friend), is a ghost hunter! And he is more than excited to help out Andres defeat the evil ghost. He has got all sorts of fun instruments that will help out with the mission.
I really liked Desmond, he was brave, and I liked that he was a true ghost hunter, and not just a kid thinking he is one. He even gets thank yous from other people, his previous clients. I am really curious about the cases, maybe we could get some prequel stories? Please?
Andres was an OK character, though I am not sure I liked him that much. Don't get me wrong, but I am just not a big fan of wimpy characters. He was constantly twitching, running away, screaming, or hiding. We did see some other sides to him, but mostly he was doing wimpy stuff. I hope he toughens up in the next books as he is going to be helping Desmond with his cases.
The ghost was really spooky, but I was surprised by what happened. Eww, ghost barf.
I was a bit confused that our MC crossed out Desmond's name and replaced it with his own in the end. Why not add a plus or an ampersand? You are working together after all, it is partnership.
I hope that Andres will live in this neighbourhood for a while. It would be a shame if he had to move again due to his parents jobs (who have very interesting jobs btw).
The book has illustrations on every page. Yep, every page! And the style was just soooo good, I really loved them. The characters are wonderfully drawn, fitting perfectly with the descriptions, and the ghost was creepy but not too creepy.
All in all, I need more Desmond Cole, more ghosts, and so I will get more of the books soon.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Yep, even in my books I am seeking out the ghosts! I believe I saw this one being promoted on Twitter and reading a short excerpt on Amazon made me want to read it. Thankfully Amazon delivers pretty fast and so I could read it without much delay.
Meet Andres, he just moved away (again it seems) and he isn't happy with it all. Not to mention that his mom is trying to get him a friend (mom, please). Oh, and did I mention the floating stuff in his house? Or the cold breath? Yep, if Andres didn't think it was terrible enough to move all the time and get used to yet another environment, he now has a ghost living in his home.
But no worries, his new friend (or soon to be best friend), is a ghost hunter! And he is more than excited to help out Andres defeat the evil ghost. He has got all sorts of fun instruments that will help out with the mission.
I really liked Desmond, he was brave, and I liked that he was a true ghost hunter, and not just a kid thinking he is one. He even gets thank yous from other people, his previous clients. I am really curious about the cases, maybe we could get some prequel stories? Please?
Andres was an OK character, though I am not sure I liked him that much. Don't get me wrong, but I am just not a big fan of wimpy characters. He was constantly twitching, running away, screaming, or hiding. We did see some other sides to him, but mostly he was doing wimpy stuff. I hope he toughens up in the next books as he is going to be helping Desmond with his cases.
The ghost was really spooky, but I was surprised by what happened. Eww, ghost barf.
I was a bit confused that our MC crossed out Desmond's name and replaced it with his own in the end. Why not add a plus or an ampersand? You are working together after all, it is partnership.
I hope that Andres will live in this neighbourhood for a while. It would be a shame if he had to move again due to his parents jobs (who have very interesting jobs btw).
The book has illustrations on every page. Yep, every page! And the style was just soooo good, I really loved them. The characters are wonderfully drawn, fitting perfectly with the descriptions, and the ghost was creepy but not too creepy.
All in all, I need more Desmond Cole, more ghosts, and so I will get more of the books soon.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 8, 2020
The main problem of the story is Andres really doesn't like that house, because he saw a silverware man, the furnitures moving by themselves, and the couch floating in the air. That house is clearly haunted. The problem is solved because Desmond let the ghost get out and let the ghost know it's Andres' home and the ghost cannot bother Andres. Andres decided ghost Zax can live in the basement.
I think it's funny that Andres has a drawing that shows him to have a "normal-boring mouth, normal boring shoes, a normal boring shirt, and normal boring jeans". I think Desmond Cole is an interesting person, because he has an office in his garage, and it has a walkie talkie, a flashlight, and some weird gadgets. I'm curious what are his gadgets, and I thought he can use his gadgets to control the ghosts. I thought the funniest part of this book is when the ghost eat the lasagna and....it's not good.
I think it's funny that Andres has a drawing that shows him to have a "normal-boring mouth, normal boring shoes, a normal boring shirt, and normal boring jeans". I think Desmond Cole is an interesting person, because he has an office in his garage, and it has a walkie talkie, a flashlight, and some weird gadgets. I'm curious what are his gadgets, and I thought he can use his gadgets to control the ghosts. I thought the funniest part of this book is when the ghost eat the lasagna and....it's not good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2018
Andres Miedoso brings a well-illustrated book designed for students who are ready for chapter books but still need a little encouragement to stick with it till the end. That encouragement in this gem comes from two very real sounding 8 year olds in a town that any kid could live in, but with a twist-ghosts abound. Meet Desmond, who has a knack for finding and handling ghosts, and new to town Andres, who takes great comfort in his very boring life. For a book written for readers who are new to chapter books or who may be struggling older readers, the two characters are well-developed and the storyline engaging. This book belongs in libraries of a wide range of readers in grades 1-4. (Review of digital ARC from Edelweiss)
May 20, 2018
Desmond Cole is a close to perfect emerging reader chapter book.
The pacing is like a mystery/thriller - with slightly bigger than average text and pictures on every page. It's not intimidating at all--but it still looks and feels like a real chapter book. Even better, the protagonists are boys of color. "Miedoso means scaredy-cat!" one of my brilliant students noticed.
Two copies of this book have been in the classroom library since last week, and 3 students have finished this book already. One of those readers is a notorious book-quitter. He will not stick with a chapter book, or even a graphic novel, past the first few pages...but Desmond Cole hooked him. I gladly give 5 stars for that.
The pacing is like a mystery/thriller - with slightly bigger than average text and pictures on every page. It's not intimidating at all--but it still looks and feels like a real chapter book. Even better, the protagonists are boys of color. "Miedoso means scaredy-cat!" one of my brilliant students noticed.
Two copies of this book have been in the classroom library since last week, and 3 students have finished this book already. One of those readers is a notorious book-quitter. He will not stick with a chapter book, or even a graphic novel, past the first few pages...but Desmond Cole hooked him. I gladly give 5 stars for that.
July 13, 2023
A fun and slightly spooky early chapter book. I'd recommend it for younger fans of Dog Man since it's heavily illustrated and there's a fair amount of gross-out humor.
Hand it to kids who enjoy Eerie Elementary, Notebook of Doom, and similar books!
Hand it to kids who enjoy Eerie Elementary, Notebook of Doom, and similar books!
June 10, 2023
Giveaway Alert: Go to www.blazertales.com to win a copy of this book plus a Novel Study PowerPoint AND First Chapter Friday Coloring Sheets!!
Have you ever moved into a new house and been a little scared or anxious about it? Yeah, me too. What if you found out this new house was haunted? What would you be feeling then? This is exactly what happens to Andres Miedoso when he moves into his new house!
Andres' parents are scientists working on a top-secret project for the government. This causes them to move around a lot. Andres finds out very quickly that Kersville is not a normal town to move to. He first meets his next-door neighbor, Desmond Cole, the day he moves in. He immediately thinks that Desmond is very odd because he has an office in their garage with all kinds of gadgets. Desmond also hands Andres his business card that says "Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: No Ghost Too Tricky".
Andres decides then and there to stay far away from this weird kid, that is until strange things begin happening around his house and he runs to find Desmond to help him. The boys find out that there is a ghost haunting Andres' house! Can Andres stay in a house that is haunted? Can Desmond help Andres drive the ghost out? Read this amazing story to find out if Andres can stay in this new house or if he has to leave... and fast!
What I Love About This Book!
First:
There are so many things I love about this book and book series! First, I love that it is a chapter book and great for those kids who are just beginning to read chapter books. It is an easy read because the font is large, the spacing is big, and there are tons of pictures. This will really increase the beginning chapter book reader's confidence!
Second:
Second, I love that this series is all about ghosts and monsters, and goblins. This will really draw in the child who loves scary stuff, but it is also very mild so there isn't much in there that will actually scare them. This book is a great introduction to the concept of ghost hunting for young readers. My kids at school are all about scary things so this book flies off the shelves and I can't keep them in.
Third:
Third, I love the humor in this book! Andres and Desmond have such a great friendship and some of the things they say and do are hilarious. Sometimes the funny parts just make me laugh out loud, which helps keep the story light and fun. Kids will love reading this book series!
Lastly:
And lastly, I love that this book teaches valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and teamwork. Overall, The Haunted House Next Door is a great book for young readers who are looking for a fun and spooky story. The book is well-written, easy to read, and full of suspense and adventure. I highly recommend it!
My Favorite Quotes!
"When you move to a new town, grown-ups always give you a lot of advice. They never tell you what to do if your house is haunted."
"The ghost followed us into the den. And that's how I ended up here, hiding behind the brand-new sofa. Shivering and quivering. Don't judge me, though. You would be hiding too if there was a large gross burping ghost floating over your head."
"Right now, my biggest fear is that my parents will tell me it's time to move again. That would be the worst because I kind of really like it here."
Have you ever moved into a new house and been a little scared or anxious about it? Yeah, me too. What if you found out this new house was haunted? What would you be feeling then? This is exactly what happens to Andres Miedoso when he moves into his new house!
Andres' parents are scientists working on a top-secret project for the government. This causes them to move around a lot. Andres finds out very quickly that Kersville is not a normal town to move to. He first meets his next-door neighbor, Desmond Cole, the day he moves in. He immediately thinks that Desmond is very odd because he has an office in their garage with all kinds of gadgets. Desmond also hands Andres his business card that says "Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: No Ghost Too Tricky".
Andres decides then and there to stay far away from this weird kid, that is until strange things begin happening around his house and he runs to find Desmond to help him. The boys find out that there is a ghost haunting Andres' house! Can Andres stay in a house that is haunted? Can Desmond help Andres drive the ghost out? Read this amazing story to find out if Andres can stay in this new house or if he has to leave... and fast!
What I Love About This Book!
First:
There are so many things I love about this book and book series! First, I love that it is a chapter book and great for those kids who are just beginning to read chapter books. It is an easy read because the font is large, the spacing is big, and there are tons of pictures. This will really increase the beginning chapter book reader's confidence!
Second:
Second, I love that this series is all about ghosts and monsters, and goblins. This will really draw in the child who loves scary stuff, but it is also very mild so there isn't much in there that will actually scare them. This book is a great introduction to the concept of ghost hunting for young readers. My kids at school are all about scary things so this book flies off the shelves and I can't keep them in.
Third:
Third, I love the humor in this book! Andres and Desmond have such a great friendship and some of the things they say and do are hilarious. Sometimes the funny parts just make me laugh out loud, which helps keep the story light and fun. Kids will love reading this book series!
Lastly:
And lastly, I love that this book teaches valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and teamwork. Overall, The Haunted House Next Door is a great book for young readers who are looking for a fun and spooky story. The book is well-written, easy to read, and full of suspense and adventure. I highly recommend it!
My Favorite Quotes!
"When you move to a new town, grown-ups always give you a lot of advice. They never tell you what to do if your house is haunted."
"The ghost followed us into the den. And that's how I ended up here, hiding behind the brand-new sofa. Shivering and quivering. Don't judge me, though. You would be hiding too if there was a large gross burping ghost floating over your head."
"Right now, my biggest fear is that my parents will tell me it's time to move again. That would be the worst because I kind of really like it here."
November 16, 2023
Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: The Haunted House Next Door by Andres Miedoso and illustrated by Victor Rivas is the first book in an emergent chapter book series. This emergent chapter book is a Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award nominee. I read this on my Kindle for a graduate course on children’s literature. The format of reading the book online made it easily accessible for me. The illustrations and text were not altered other than being online. The author, Andres Miedoso, based the characters for this book on himself and his best friend Desmond. Andres claims to still be “afraid of everything” which is a main character trait of Andres in the story. Scholastic Teacher’s website carries the books, signifying that there is educational merit, especially as the main characters are children of color, providing a mirror for our diverse nation. Although the main characters are diverse, there are very few cultural markers present throughout the book. Andres’ parents are both scientists and they use some Spanish language when speaking with Andres, such as “mijo”. Other than the few Spanish words, there are no other cultural markers in the book.
The plot of the book is about the main character, a fearless eight-year old, Desmond Cole, who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Andreas Miedoso moves next door to Desmond and they quickly become friends, bonding over the spooky occurrences in Andreas’ new house. Burping ghosts and giant silverware men make appearances in this highly entertaining book. The set of the theme is in the small town of Kersville with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-markers. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol.
This book is recommended for emerging readers, because it is easy to read language and illustrations on almost every page. The illustrations are in black and white, which creates that spooky atmosphere. The style utilized by Rivas was expressionism as the characters feel intense emotions of fear with a comedic twist. This book could be used in the 1st-4th grade classroom as a read aloud or book club. Students can compare and contrast the two characters, Desmond and Andres based on their character traits and/or family traits. Another lesson could be on each student’s version of “normal boring”. In the book, Andres describes himself as “normal boring” and even has a labeled picture of how each part of him is “normal boring”. Students could discuss what is “normal boring” about themselves and compare that to Andres’ version.
I liked this book because it was funny and had a unique plot. It is also a great choice for young male readers who oftentimes want to find male protagonists as well as humorous stories.
The plot of the book is about the main character, a fearless eight-year old, Desmond Cole, who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Andreas Miedoso moves next door to Desmond and they quickly become friends, bonding over the spooky occurrences in Andreas’ new house. Burping ghosts and giant silverware men make appearances in this highly entertaining book. The set of the theme is in the small town of Kersville with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-markers. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol.
This book is recommended for emerging readers, because it is easy to read language and illustrations on almost every page. The illustrations are in black and white, which creates that spooky atmosphere. The style utilized by Rivas was expressionism as the characters feel intense emotions of fear with a comedic twist. This book could be used in the 1st-4th grade classroom as a read aloud or book club. Students can compare and contrast the two characters, Desmond and Andres based on their character traits and/or family traits. Another lesson could be on each student’s version of “normal boring”. In the book, Andres describes himself as “normal boring” and even has a labeled picture of how each part of him is “normal boring”. Students could discuss what is “normal boring” about themselves and compare that to Andres’ version.
I liked this book because it was funny and had a unique plot. It is also a great choice for young male readers who oftentimes want to find male protagonists as well as humorous stories.
November 16, 2023
Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: The Haunted House Next Door by Andres Miedoso and illustrated by Victor Rivas is the first book in an emergent chapter book series. This emergent chapter book is a Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award nominee. I read this for a graduate course on children’s literature. The author, Andres Miedoso, based the characters for this book on himself and his best friend Desmond. Andres claims to still be “afraid of everything” which is a main character trait of Andres in the story. Scholastic Teacher’s website carries the books, signifying that there is educational merit, especially as the main characters are children of color, providing a mirror for our diverse nation. Although the main characters are diverse, there are very few cultural markers present throughout the book. Andres’ parents are both scientists and they use some Spanish language when speaking with Andres, such as “mijo”. Other than the few Spanish words, there are no other cultural markers in the book.
The plot of the book is about the main character, a fearless eight-year old, Desmond Cole, who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Andreas Miedoso moves next door to Desmond and they quickly become friends, bonding over the spooky occurrences in Andreas’ new house. Burping ghosts and giant silverware men make appearances in this highly entertaining book. The set of the theme is in the small town of Kersville with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-markers. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol.
This book is recommended for emerging readers, because it is easy to read language and illustrations on almost every page.The illustrations are in black and white, which creates that spooky atmosphere. The style utilized by Rivas was expressionism as the characters feel intense emotions of fear with a comedic twist. This book could be used in the 1st-4th grade classroom as a read aloud or book club. Students can compare and contrast the two characters, Desmond and Andres based on their character traits and/or family traits. Another lesson could be on each student’s version of “normal boring”. In the book, Andres describes himself as “normal boring” and even has a labeled picture of how each part of him is “normal boring”. Students could discuss what is “normal boring” about themselves and compare that to Andres’ version.
I liked this book because it was funny and had a unique plot. It is also a great choice for young male readers who oftentimes want to find male protagonists as well as humorous stories.
The plot of the book is about the main character, a fearless eight-year old, Desmond Cole, who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Andreas Miedoso moves next door to Desmond and they quickly become friends, bonding over the spooky occurrences in Andreas’ new house. Burping ghosts and giant silverware men make appearances in this highly entertaining book. The set of the theme is in the small town of Kersville with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-markers. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol.
This book is recommended for emerging readers, because it is easy to read language and illustrations on almost every page.The illustrations are in black and white, which creates that spooky atmosphere. The style utilized by Rivas was expressionism as the characters feel intense emotions of fear with a comedic twist. This book could be used in the 1st-4th grade classroom as a read aloud or book club. Students can compare and contrast the two characters, Desmond and Andres based on their character traits and/or family traits. Another lesson could be on each student’s version of “normal boring”. In the book, Andres describes himself as “normal boring” and even has a labeled picture of how each part of him is “normal boring”. Students could discuss what is “normal boring” about themselves and compare that to Andres’ version.
I liked this book because it was funny and had a unique plot. It is also a great choice for young male readers who oftentimes want to find male protagonists as well as humorous stories.
November 16, 2023
Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: The Haunted House Next Door by Andres Miedoso and illustrated by Victor Rivas is the first book in an emergent chapter book series. This emergent chapter book is a Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award nominee. I read this for a graduate course on children’s literature. The author, Andres Miedoso, based the characters for this book on himself and his best friend Desmond. Andres claims to still be “afraid of everything” which is a main character trait of Andres in the story. Scholastic Teacher’s website carries the books, signifying that there is educational merit, especially as the main characters are children of color, providing a mirror for our diverse nation. Although the main characters are diverse, there are very few cultural markers present throughout the book. Andres’ parents are both scientists and they use some Spanish language when speaking with Andres, such as “mijo”. Other than the few Spanish words, there are no other cultural markers in the book.
The plot of the book is about the main character, a fearless eight-year old, Desmond Cole, who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Andreas Miedoso moves next door to Desmond and they quickly become friends, bonding over the spooky occurrences in Andreas’ new house. Burping ghosts and giant silverware men make appearances in this highly entertaining book. The set of the theme is in the small town of Kersville with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-markers. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol.
This book is recommended for emerging readers, because it is easy to read language and illustrations on almost every page.The illustrations are in black and white, which creates that spooky atmosphere. The style utilized by Rivas was expressionism as the characters feel intense emotions of fear with a comedic twist. This book could be used in the 1st-4th grade classroom as a read aloud or book club. Students can compare and contrast the two characters, Desmond and Andres based on their character traits and/or family traits. Another lesson could be on each student’s version of “normal boring”. In the book, Andres describes himself as “normal boring” and even has a labeled picture of how each part of him is “normal boring”. Students could discuss what is “normal boring” about themselves and compare that to Andres’ version.
I liked this book because it was funny and had a unique plot. It is also a great choice for young male readers who oftentimes want to find male protagonists as well as humorous stories.
The plot of the book is about the main character, a fearless eight-year old, Desmond Cole, who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Andreas Miedoso moves next door to Desmond and they quickly become friends, bonding over the spooky occurrences in Andreas’ new house. Burping ghosts and giant silverware men make appearances in this highly entertaining book. The set of the theme is in the small town of Kersville with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-markers. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol.
This book is recommended for emerging readers, because it is easy to read language and illustrations on almost every page.The illustrations are in black and white, which creates that spooky atmosphere. The style utilized by Rivas was expressionism as the characters feel intense emotions of fear with a comedic twist. This book could be used in the 1st-4th grade classroom as a read aloud or book club. Students can compare and contrast the two characters, Desmond and Andres based on their character traits and/or family traits. Another lesson could be on each student’s version of “normal boring”. In the book, Andres describes himself as “normal boring” and even has a labeled picture of how each part of him is “normal boring”. Students could discuss what is “normal boring” about themselves and compare that to Andres’ version.
I liked this book because it was funny and had a unique plot. It is also a great choice for young male readers who oftentimes want to find male protagonists as well as humorous stories.
Read
December 19, 2019Book Title: Ghost Patrol: The Haunted House Next Door
Author/ Illustrator: Andres Miedoso / Victor Rivas
Reading Level: M
Book Level: 3.6
Book Summary: Andres and his new neighborhood friend Desmond discover that his house is haunted. Andres uses Desmonds help since he has recently started a ghost hunting business. They find several mysterious things from noises, floating furniture, and other paranormal activity in their journey to rid the house of ghosts.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits
Voice: Discuss setting and mood with students. Describe a few settings from the book and ask them how those make them feel. List emotions and have students associate those with a setting. Next, have students brainstorm words associated with each emotion. If you were frightened, what words/verbs might you use? Trembled, Cower, hyperventilate. What adjectives would describe you? Panicky, anxious, frozen. Personally, what do you think of when you think of being frightened? Monsters under the bed, being alone, the dark. Have students create their lists for multiple words that describe the mood of the text.
Word Choice: Have students read page 47 and circle words in which the writer uses specific words that set the tone of the story (frozen, creaking, reflections). Now have the students replace those words with different words in order to change the mood of the story. Can you keep the mood consistent or is it difficult to manipulate that many words?
Step two (introducing student models of writing): In small groups, have your students read and respond to any or all of the student models that come with this lesson. The groups will certainly talk about the voice, because of the Post-it® Note-sized template that has been embedded on each model. You might prompt your students to talk about each model's word choice as well.
Author/ Illustrator: Andres Miedoso / Victor Rivas
Reading Level: M
Book Level: 3.6
Book Summary: Andres and his new neighborhood friend Desmond discover that his house is haunted. Andres uses Desmonds help since he has recently started a ghost hunting business. They find several mysterious things from noises, floating furniture, and other paranormal activity in their journey to rid the house of ghosts.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Traits
Voice: Discuss setting and mood with students. Describe a few settings from the book and ask them how those make them feel. List emotions and have students associate those with a setting. Next, have students brainstorm words associated with each emotion. If you were frightened, what words/verbs might you use? Trembled, Cower, hyperventilate. What adjectives would describe you? Panicky, anxious, frozen. Personally, what do you think of when you think of being frightened? Monsters under the bed, being alone, the dark. Have students create their lists for multiple words that describe the mood of the text.
Word Choice: Have students read page 47 and circle words in which the writer uses specific words that set the tone of the story (frozen, creaking, reflections). Now have the students replace those words with different words in order to change the mood of the story. Can you keep the mood consistent or is it difficult to manipulate that many words?
Step two (introducing student models of writing): In small groups, have your students read and respond to any or all of the student models that come with this lesson. The groups will certainly talk about the voice, because of the Post-it® Note-sized template that has been embedded on each model. You might prompt your students to talk about each model's word choice as well.
November 16, 2023
Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: The Haunted House Next Door by Andres Miedoso and illustrated by Victor Rivas is the first book in an emergent chapter book series. This emergent chapter book is a Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Beverly Cleary Children’s Choice Award nominee. I read this for a graduate course on children’s literature. The author, Andres Miedoso, based the characters for this book on himself and his best friend Desmond. Andres claims to still be “afraid of everything” which is a main character trait of Andres in the story. Scholastic Teacher’s website carries the books, signifying that there is educational merit, especially as the main characters are children of color, providing a mirror for our diverse nation. Although the main characters are diverse, there are very few cultural markers present throughout the book. Andres’ parents are both scientists and they use some Spanish language when speaking with Andres, such as “mijo”. Other than the few Spanish words, there are no other cultural markers in the book.
The plot of the book is about the main character, a fearless eight-year old, Desmond Cole, who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Andreas Miedoso moves next door to Desmond and they quickly become friends, bonding over the spooky occurrences in Andreas’ new house. Burping ghosts and giant silverware men make appearances in this highly entertaining book. The set of the theme is in the small town of Kersville with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-markers. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol.
This book is recommended for emerging readers, because it is easy to read language and illustrations on almost every page.The illustrations are in black and white, which creates that spooky atmosphere. The style utilized by Rivas was expressionism as the characters feel intense emotions of fear with a comedic twist. This book could be used in the 1st-4th grade classroom as a read aloud or book club. Students can compare and contrast the two characters, Desmond and Andres based on their character traits and/or family traits. Another lesson could be on each student’s version of “normal boring”. In the book, Andres describes himself as “normal boring” and even has a labeled picture of how each part of him is “normal boring”. Students could discuss what is “normal boring” about themselves and compare that to Andres’ version.
I liked this book because it was funny and had a unique plot. It is also a great choice for young male readers who oftentimes want to find male protagonists as well as humorous stories.
The plot of the book is about the main character, a fearless eight-year old, Desmond Cole, who runs his own ghost patrol, looking for ghosts, monsters, and mischief makers everywhere. Andreas Miedoso moves next door to Desmond and they quickly become friends, bonding over the spooky occurrences in Andreas’ new house. Burping ghosts and giant silverware men make appearances in this highly entertaining book. The set of the theme is in the small town of Kersville with a spooky history and a collection of ghosts and spirits who are major mischief-markers. When that happens, they call Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol.
This book is recommended for emerging readers, because it is easy to read language and illustrations on almost every page.The illustrations are in black and white, which creates that spooky atmosphere. The style utilized by Rivas was expressionism as the characters feel intense emotions of fear with a comedic twist. This book could be used in the 1st-4th grade classroom as a read aloud or book club. Students can compare and contrast the two characters, Desmond and Andres based on their character traits and/or family traits. Another lesson could be on each student’s version of “normal boring”. In the book, Andres describes himself as “normal boring” and even has a labeled picture of how each part of him is “normal boring”. Students could discuss what is “normal boring” about themselves and compare that to Andres’ version.
I liked this book because it was funny and had a unique plot. It is also a great choice for young male readers who oftentimes want to find male protagonists as well as humorous stories.
October 16, 2018
My Review: Munchkin received this book quite a while ago and I honestly thought about donating it because it was above his reading level and he is easily triggered for nightmares. I decided first to give it a read. I was pretty pleasantly surprised by this one, it turned out not to be as spooky as the title indicates. It is also a nice transitional book from beginning readers to early chapter books. I did find it a little odd how the mother calls Andres by a term in another language but it isn't clear what it means or what language, and that is the only time something is said in that language, so it seemed a bit out of place. Also even though this is just at the edge of Munchkin's reading abilities, there are some unexplained things that he would question (ie: how did he get the ghost goo off the couch without his parents finding out)? All in all though it turned out to be a pleasant surprise and I will keep it on the shelf for Munchkin to try.
October 3, 2019
"Yep. That's a ghost. He's seconds away from sliming our brand new sofa ... and me!"
Andres Miedoso, a normal-boring kid who likes being normal-boring, has just moved into a new house with his family. They move around a lot because his parents have a top secret job ... "oops, I probably shouldn't tell you that." On his first day, he meets his neighbor, Desmond Cole, a kid who carries a card that says GHOST PATROL - No Ghost Too Tricky. Andres doesn't know quite what to make of Desmond.
But it isn't long before Andres begins noticing strange things happening in his house ... items moving on their own, strange noises. And after a visit to Andres' house, Desmond tells him "Call me if you need me, okay?" Does Desmond know something that Andres doesn't about this house?
A not-so-scary, scary book for early readers.
Andres Miedoso, a normal-boring kid who likes being normal-boring, has just moved into a new house with his family. They move around a lot because his parents have a top secret job ... "oops, I probably shouldn't tell you that." On his first day, he meets his neighbor, Desmond Cole, a kid who carries a card that says GHOST PATROL - No Ghost Too Tricky. Andres doesn't know quite what to make of Desmond.
But it isn't long before Andres begins noticing strange things happening in his house ... items moving on their own, strange noises. And after a visit to Andres' house, Desmond tells him "Call me if you need me, okay?" Does Desmond know something that Andres doesn't about this house?
A not-so-scary, scary book for early readers.
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