‘Ghosts are Real. Same as vampires, chupacabras, radish monsters, sea beasties, swamp ghouls and Bigfoot. I swear on the life of my Grams and her five fat cats, I am telling you the whole truth. After all, I should know - my best friend is a Werewolf.”
My thanks to Guppy Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Ghost Scouts: Welcome to Camp Croak’ written and illustrated by Taylor Dolan. I will note that in some editions the series title is ‘Ghoul Scouts’, which I feel plays better as a take on ‘Girl Scouts’.
Every now and then I enjoy reading children’s fantasy fiction, especially when accompanied by quirky illustrations. Taylor Dolan’s opening book in her ‘Ghost/Ghoul Scouts’ series certainly fitted this criteria.
Lexie Wilde is a little wary of spending her summer at the Happy Hollow Camp for Joyful Boys and Girls. Then her Grams drops her off in the middle of the Louisiana swamp under a sign reading ‘WELCOME TO CAMP CROAK’. It turns out that her fellow campers include a werewolf, a skeleton, a fancy schmancy zombie and a baseball-hat-wearing ghost.
She is soon having fun gaining Ghoul Scout badges. Yet when their camp counsellors succumb to a mysterious sleeping sickness, they are replaced by the glamorous Euphemia Vile, who has plans of her own for Camp Croak. Oh dear!
Along with the adventures this is a story about friendship and the acceptance of difference.
The book is intended for readers aged 5-10 though age was no barrier to my enjoyment. Having grown up loving the cartoons of Charles Addams, ‘Welcome to Camp Croak’ certainly appealed to my inner younger Goth self, raising lots of smiles. I especially adored Dolan’s illustrations throughout.
I am certain that the book will appeal to young readers, especially those who enjoy all things spooky. I definitely plan to continue with this fun series.