#blogbookaday: The Scariest Book Ever

Summary:  “Reader beware! This is the scariest book ever! Or so claims its melodramatic ghost narrator. You can go ahead and turn the page, but don’t expect him to come with you. Anything might pop out of that black hole in the middle of the forest. What do you mean it’s just a bunny? Well, it’s probably a bunny with big fangs. Watch out, it’s–picking pumpkins with its friends, you say? Actually, despite the ghost’s scare-mongering, none of the animal characters in the illustrations seem scary at all. . . .

What’s up with that? Many delights, such as surprises after the page turn, an alarmist narrator, and punch lines to anticipate make this book a scream for both kids and parents.” (Taken from Goodreads)

Review: A nervous ghost isn’t quite ready to explore the dark woods outside his haunted house and encourages the reader to report back what we find. The ghost soon finds out that the woods might not be as scary as he first thought as woodland animals, pumpkin picking and cupcakes are in abundance in the woods.

Personal Reaction: I love how far the ghost goes when he expects the worse each time the reader comes back to report what we’ve found in the woods and always imagines the worse, but in the end he is brave enough to go check out what’s happening in the woods and is delightfully surprised! Bob Shea’s iconic illustration style filled with bold colors and basic shapes is so fun, especially when our ghost spills something on his sheet and ends up floating around naked for the rest of the book! This is the perfect “scary” story for kids who like a little scare and a lot of laughter.

Title: The Scariest Book Ever
Author: Bob Shea
Illustrator: Bob Shea
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: July 18, 2017

This is a new idea I’m trying on my blog this year that was inspired by @donalynbooks and @heisereads – to provide a brief review of a picture book every day of 2018. You’ll get a brief summary of the story, a review of the content, illustrations and theme, my personal reaction to the book and all the pertinent publication information! Enjoy!