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danaspice1's review against another edition
4.0
This was an ARC I received from the publisher and it was a super-cute story. Loved the illustrations and the fun twist at the end. Not your typical ghost story. Perfect for fans of Bruce Eric Kaplan's, "Monsters Eat Whiny Children."
biblioberuthiel's review against another edition
2.0
I dig this illustration style but there isn't really anything here but unfunny ghost puns.
aaafamilyreads's review against another edition
4.0
Cute, spooky “how-to” book perfect for Halloween tome reads. Written in the style of a how to guide, this book goes into the basics of befriending and caring for a ghost. Just enough cuteness and eeky-ness combine to make this read appropriate for even the easily spooked child. It’s also very imaginative (we especially liked the section on feeding), and has a cute ending. The illustrations are also adorable and I loved the use of the Halloween color scheme of white, black, and orange as the main colors.
rinnym's review against another edition
5.0
This book is the cutest little instruction guide for your new spooky friend. I even may have teared up at the end. Lovely illustrations!
toastx2's review against another edition
3.0
How to Make Friends with a Ghost: A depressingly realistic look at platonic soul love
REVIEW COPY
Q: Who will meet you when you die? A: Forget about family. If you are lucky enough to have a Ghost friend, he or she will. For the first time you will share a non-corporeal form with you and able to hold hands. You can skip jump, high-five, and more.
This book a thinly veiled view on the short time we have and the permanence of true friendship...
How to Make Friends with a Ghost (Rebecca Green)
40 pages
Tundra Books
ISBN-10: 1101919019
ISBN-13: 978-1101919019
Consider picking up a copy for personal use OR to donate to your local library.
I loved this book. LOVED.
Contrary to mass review and much marketing, this is not a Halloween story. Anyone review you read which makes the comparison or mentions this as a spooky story didn’t get it.
Being that this illustrated book was released in September, I felt that the goal of the publisher was to make a few bones in the thematic fall marketplace. I could not in good faith review this book before November. This is an all year round book.
HMFG is about as scary as the movie Beetlejuice. Much as the characters of Beetlejuice relied on the ‘Handbook for the Recently Deceased’, this book can help you make a ghost your pally.
While the text and handbook presentation is a bit tongue in cheek, the illustrations tell an entirely different story. The pictures describe a warm friendship between a girl and a spirit. This friendship lasts an entire lifetime and beyond. I do not have a spirit friend, and after reading this, I felt a little lonely. No, seriously. I was not one for imaginary or spirit friends growing up and I am a little unhappy with the universe right now.
Presented as a DIY/HowTo guide, Rebecca Green has laid out a series of steps on how to identify, befriend, care for, and grow into adulthood with the undead.
More questions:
Q: What are good foods to cook with your friend? A: Floating Spaghetti and Mudballs
Q: Where should your ghost sleep? A: In a dark corner of the attic, preferably with a chill and some ambiance spiderwebs.
Q: Can you read this book to children? A: Yes, absolutely. It is cute, whimsical, and approaches the concept of physical impermanence with a wink and a nod. The last page made me cry. Not like boredom from stereo instructions tears, actual ‘my heart broke a little’ tears.
Q: But what about God and Heaven and ________ insert another topic here ________? A: Seriously? It’s a cute book which has some dark undertones. Read it, love it, have some hard conversations. You owe it to your kid(s).
Q: I don’t have kids and I have no desire for those urine filled mewling cabbages to be around me. Can I still read this? A: Yes.
——
Q: Should you disclose this was a free book sent to you by the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review, even if said review was incredibly negative, but ultimately hoping that you would enjoy it and provide a favorable viewpoint? A: Yes. The disclosure is provided in the question above. Consider my opinion positive.
Illustration samples available at my full review on my website.
REVIEW COPY
Q: Who will meet you when you die? A: Forget about family. If you are lucky enough to have a Ghost friend, he or she will. For the first time you will share a non-corporeal form with you and able to hold hands. You can skip jump, high-five, and more.
This book a thinly veiled view on the short time we have and the permanence of true friendship...
How to Make Friends with a Ghost (Rebecca Green)
40 pages
Tundra Books
ISBN-10: 1101919019
ISBN-13: 978-1101919019
Consider picking up a copy for personal use OR to donate to your local library.
I loved this book. LOVED.
Contrary to mass review and much marketing, this is not a Halloween story. Anyone review you read which makes the comparison or mentions this as a spooky story didn’t get it.
Being that this illustrated book was released in September, I felt that the goal of the publisher was to make a few bones in the thematic fall marketplace. I could not in good faith review this book before November. This is an all year round book.
HMFG is about as scary as the movie Beetlejuice. Much as the characters of Beetlejuice relied on the ‘Handbook for the Recently Deceased’, this book can help you make a ghost your pally.
While the text and handbook presentation is a bit tongue in cheek, the illustrations tell an entirely different story. The pictures describe a warm friendship between a girl and a spirit. This friendship lasts an entire lifetime and beyond. I do not have a spirit friend, and after reading this, I felt a little lonely. No, seriously. I was not one for imaginary or spirit friends growing up and I am a little unhappy with the universe right now.
Presented as a DIY/HowTo guide, Rebecca Green has laid out a series of steps on how to identify, befriend, care for, and grow into adulthood with the undead.
More questions:
Q: What are good foods to cook with your friend? A: Floating Spaghetti and Mudballs
Q: Where should your ghost sleep? A: In a dark corner of the attic, preferably with a chill and some ambiance spiderwebs.
Q: Can you read this book to children? A: Yes, absolutely. It is cute, whimsical, and approaches the concept of physical impermanence with a wink and a nod. The last page made me cry. Not like boredom from stereo instructions tears, actual ‘my heart broke a little’ tears.
Q: But what about God and Heaven and ________ insert another topic here ________? A: Seriously? It’s a cute book which has some dark undertones. Read it, love it, have some hard conversations. You owe it to your kid(s).
Q: I don’t have kids and I have no desire for those urine filled mewling cabbages to be around me. Can I still read this? A: Yes.
——
Q: Should you disclose this was a free book sent to you by the publisher or author in exchange for an honest review, even if said review was incredibly negative, but ultimately hoping that you would enjoy it and provide a favorable viewpoint? A: Yes. The disclosure is provided in the question above. Consider my opinion positive.
Illustration samples available at my full review on my website.
mrchance's review against another edition
5.0
Cute and creative manual on how to make friends with a ghost. Morbidly wry tips on befriending, feeding, and caring for spirits once you make friends with them. Perfect for the Wednesday Addams in all of us. One of the best picture books I've read in a long time.
9/28/2019: Read this book again, more slowly and carefully, loved it even more and gently wept at the end.
9/28/2019: Read this book again, more slowly and carefully, loved it even more and gently wept at the end.