Hardly Haunted

Synopsis:

“House has a problem.

She’s a little spooky. She’s a little cobwebby. Oh, no! What if she’s haunted?

She’s not sure, but…her hinges creak. Her pipes bang. And on windy days, the branches scritch-scratch at her windows. She tries to hold her breath and be as still as possible. If she’s on her best behavior, maybe a family will move in.

How will House ever find a family that doesn’t mind being haunted?”

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Review:

Oh my gosh! This is the cutest Halloween book! I had put it on hold at the library and it was sitting on my desk when I got in at work this morning. This is the sweetest little story about a house that just wants to be a home for a loving family. But she’s got a big problem! The house might be haunted! All the signs are there! And if she’s haunted, who will want to live in her?

I absolutely love the use of onomatopoeia in this book and that’s one of the reasons why it would be a great read aloud for storytime. Plus, you’ve got to love the little black cat that explores the house too! And the illustrations (like all of Jessie’s) are super sweet! (Check out Not Quite Narwhal too!) I love how much character the house has, even as an inanimate object.

Verdict:

This is now one of my must-read Halloween books! I’m completely obsessed! And I shared it with my children’s librarian to share during an upcoming storytime and she loved it too.

Looking for a ghostly storytime? Check out my post from last year for even more great titles. And check out the downloadable activity sheets from the publisher to extend this story even more!

If you’re interested in purchasing Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima, please use my affiliate links for Bookshop.org or Amazon.com. When you purchase from either of these links, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.

Need to Know:

Title: Hardly Haunted
Author/Illustrator: Jessie Sima
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 20, 2021
Page Number: 48 pgs.