Boo!

by Joe Fenton

Bold and brilliant illustrations crafted with Joe Fenton’s distinctive style tell the tale of a little ghost who wants to be spooky enough to win his school’s Halloween costume contest. But how can he be terrifying if he can’t make a scary face? Even the youngest of readers can relate to this earnest spirit’s struggles, as well as read along—"Boo!" is the only word used throughout the imaginative and colorful story.

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Storytime, Ghosts, Holiday

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Joe Fenton is a British artist, designer, sculptor and illustrator, who mainly works in monochrome using graphite, ink, acrylics, oils on paper, canvas, and other.

Joe Fenton became internationally-known through his first large scale drawing rendered in graphite, acrylics, gouache, and ink, called Solitude. Completed in 2011, Solitude took over 10 months to produce, with its size being approximately 8 feet wide and 5.5 feet high

Reviews

[midnightfaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful Halloween story with no words and beautiful and unique illustrations! And they glow in the dark! Fenton does a wonderful job of telling this cute story from a little ghost's point of view who is trying hard to be scary. My 5 yr old as well as my preschoolers loved it. A great read!

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a cute little book about a ghost practicing his scare technique for a Halloween contest.

[Glasdow Teacosy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but confusing. I loved the shadows and somber colors in this Halloween story about a little ghost who is far too cute to be scary. The round heads is a stylistic choice that wasn't a hit with me, but added to the overall charm of the art. The problem I had with the story was that the narrative was hard to follow at first. I couldn't tell if that was a fault of the artwork or the story told only through pictures. Otherwise, it was a good Halloween story that young readers will enjoy.

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talented artist Joe Fenton has built a book around his clever illustrations.

After reading the jacket copy, I saw the premise of the book and hoped that his talent would make me like this book:

..."tale of a little ghost who wants to be spooky enough to win his school’s Halloween costume contest. But how can he be terrifying if he can’t make a scary face? "

That liking didn't happen, not in the least. But I still do admire Joe Fenton's artistic skill.

[DeA · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Halloween and little ghost needs to find the perfect scary costume for the scare contest. This book has cute none scary glow in the dark pictures that make it a great bed time book for October. The children I read this to had a blast and we were all giggling and saying "Oh, no" and "Boo!" Recommend to anyone with young children looking for a Halloween book to read with children.

[Rudy Regalado · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awards: None

Grade Level: Age: 3- 6 years old grades: pre K- 1

Summary: In this book, we follow the little unnamed ghost as he tries to be scary like the rest of the ghosts around him. He tries and he tries, but no one seems to be afraid of him. He doesn't give up so easily though and we see how far he goes in his quest to be a scary ghost.

Review: I liked this book although I wish there was a bit more to it. I really liked the illustrations, but the book had almost nothing going on. We followed the ghost, but in his story barely anything at all happened. I would recommend this book as a Halloween read, but that's it.

Possible in class uses: This book could be used to get children in the mood for Halloween, to also have them come up with fun and creative ways to scare each other on the Holiday, and lastly to never give up when you are trying to accomplish something.

[Gail Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

True, it’s not quite that time of year yet, but this laugh provoking “ghost story” is something youngsters will consider a treat when a young ghost tries everything he can think of as he attempts to frighten the other ghosts in his family.

This is a picture book in every sense of the word - pages are filled with smile provoking illustrations and not any text (save for lots of “boos.”) The illustrations are bright, imaginative, and surprising. They’re rendered in oil paints and that young ghost rascal glows in the dark.

BOO! Is a fun way to remind youngsters that ghosts aren’t anything to fear.

- Gail Cooke

[Whole And · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun glow in the dark Halloween book with adorable ghost characters, trying on various Halloween costumes. I wont spoil the ending but getting there was fun. We enjoyed the story telling through illustrations rather than words. A fun way for a toddler learning to read tell the story her/himself!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little ghost is trying to find a scary costume. He tries them out on his family till he finds the scariest. The pictures in this book are fabulous, not a lot of words but it doesn't need them, You can add your own. I loved it.

[Emm Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

We liked it as a story and the illustrations were cute, but the misspelling at the end is really rather ridiculous. Hello? Editor?? The little ghost should be winning the "Scariest Spook Competition," not "Competion." Geez.....

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wordless book has really cute illustrations, but I will say that I had a little difficulty figuring out what exactly was going on at first. *Bonus* it glows in the dark!! :)

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fun halloween book, the story is told mainly with the use of illustrations & hardly any text! The artwork is really detailed and charming. THE COVER GLOWS IN THE DARK!!

[Allison · Rating 1 out of 5]

eh. . .didn't like the ending. The pictures were okay, but the storyline was a little hard to follow.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really. Cute.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adorable.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minus- Only the cover glows in the dark.
Plus- A ghost dresses up as a ghost for Halloween! HA!

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, virtually wordless, picture book about a little ghost trying to find a scary Halloween costume.

[Alyson (Kid Lit Frenzy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations had me. Especially of the little baby ghost with the pacifier.

[Jaxverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was funny. I like it.

[Jodie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An almost wordless book - BOO! is the only word you really see. A ghost tries to find a way to scare his family.

[Roger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Almost no words, but cute pics. I had to "read" it twice and still didn't get the story until I read other reviews here. (But I'm just slow. Toddlers will get it.)

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really cute artwork (and it's glow in the dark!) but the story is difficult to follow. Never thought I'd say that about a picture book.

[Michelle Tempted By Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ridiculously adorable artwork, loved it.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible.