📖 Overview
Skeleton has a case of the hiccups that won't go away. His friend Ghost tries to help by suggesting various traditional hiccup cures.
The two characters move through different rooms and spaces as they attempt remedy after remedy without success. The illustrations show Skeleton's bones rattling and shaking with each "hic."
Ghost and Skeleton's quest to solve this spooky medical issue combines humor with problem-solving. The solution they ultimately discover puts a supernatural twist on a common childhood experience.
This picture book uses a simple premise to explore friendship and persistence, showing how sometimes the best answers come from thinking differently about familiar problems.
👀 Reviews
Parents and teachers report this book delights young children aged 2-6, with multiple reviewers noting it became an instant bedtime favorite. The simple, repeating text pattern helps beginning readers follow along.
Readers liked:
- Ghost and skeleton illustrations that kids find funny rather than scary
- Interactive opportunities to make hiccup sounds
- Short length for fidgety toddlers
- Teaching problem-solving through trial and error
Main criticism:
- Some found the ending solution unrealistic and random
- Text may be too basic for children over 6
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.0/5 (513 ratings)
Amazon: 4.7/5 (165 ratings)
"My preschool class asks for this one weekly," noted one teacher reviewer. A parent commented, "The illustrations kept my 3-year-old engaged while being spooky-lite."
Several reviewers mentioned using it as a Halloween read-aloud, though many read it year-round.
📚 Similar books
Bone Dog by Eric Rohmann
A boy's deceased dog returns as a skeleton on Halloween night to help him escape from skeleton bullies.
Inside a House That Is Haunted by Alyssa Satin Capucilli A chain reaction of spooky events unfolds when trick-or-treaters knock on the door of a haunted house.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams A woman encounters walking clothes and a pumpkin head that follow her through the woods.
Skeleton Meets the Mummy by Steve Metzger A skeleton walks through a dark neighborhood to meet his friend on Halloween night.
Ghost in the House by Ammi-Joan Paquette A ghost discovers other creatures in a haunted house while playing hide and seek.
Inside a House That Is Haunted by Alyssa Satin Capucilli A chain reaction of spooky events unfolds when trick-or-treaters knock on the door of a haunted house.
The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams A woman encounters walking clothes and a pumpkin head that follow her through the woods.
Skeleton Meets the Mummy by Steve Metzger A skeleton walks through a dark neighborhood to meet his friend on Halloween night.
Ghost in the House by Ammi-Joan Paquette A ghost discovers other creatures in a haunted house while playing hide and seek.
🤔 Interesting facts
🦴 Author Margery Cuyler has written over 45 children's books throughout her career, drawing from her extensive experience as a children's book editor.
👻 The illustrator, S.D. Schindler, is known for his detailed and expressive artwork, having illustrated more than 100 children's books.
💀 The book uses onomatopoeia (sound words like "hic") throughout the story, making it an excellent teaching tool for this literary device.
🎃 The main character's attempts to cure his hiccups include traditional remedies like drinking water upside down and holding his breath, but with a skeletal twist since he has no flesh.
📚 Published in 2002, this Halloween-themed picture book remains popular in elementary school libraries for its combination of humor and gentle spookiness suitable for young readers.