Ghost in the House

A ghost floats through a dark house on Halloween night, encountering other spooky creatures along the way. The ghost counts each new friend as they join the group's journey through the house. The book follows a cumulative pattern, with each page adding a new creature to the growing ensemble of Halloween characters. The spare text focuses on numbers and simple descriptions, allowing the illustrations to carry much of the storytelling. The story balances playful fun with just enough spookiness for young readers exploring Halloween themes. Through its blend of counting elements and monster encounters, the book offers an engaging way for children to practice numbers while building comfort with traditional Halloween imagery.

Parents and children report this works well as a not-too-scary Halloween counting book for ages 2-5. Many note their toddlers request repeated readings and join in counting the friendly ghosts, mummies, and monsters. Readers liked: - Simple rhyming text that builds anticipation - Cute, non-threatening illustrations - Interactive counting element - Short length for bedtime reading - Sturdy board book format Common criticisms: - Story ends abruptly - Limited appeal beyond Halloween season - Some found it too basic for preschoolers Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (900+ ratings) Sample review: "Perfect for my 2-year-old who loves monsters but gets scared easily. The illustrations are adorable and he loves counting along." -Amazon reviewer "The rhythm feels off in places and the ending falls flat." -Goodreads reviewer

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🎃 Author Ammi-Joan Paquette works as a literary agent when she's not writing children's books, representing other authors and helping their stories reach young readers. 👻 The book uses a cumulative counting structure similar to classic nursery rhymes, adding a new spooky friend with each page turn. 🏚️ The illustrations by Adam Record use a limited color palette of orange, black, white, and blue to create a perfectly not-too-scary Halloween atmosphere. 🌙 The story features five different Halloween creatures (ghost, mummy, skeleton, monster, and witch) who end up fleeing from what turns out to be human trick-or-treaters. 🎨 The book's illustrator, Adam Record, has created artwork for major brands including Target, Amazon, and Chronicle Books, and specializes in children's illustration with a playful, modern style.