The Little Crooked Bookshelf on #ReviewsDay

ELF IN THE HOUSE
by Ammi-Joan Paquette
illustrated by Adam Record

(This week's #ReviewsDay pick is from cottager Anika Denise.)

What it's all about...
On a snowy Christmas Eve, a little girl tip-toes from her bed to find some surprise friends in her house, including a mouse, an elf, and even the big jolly guy himself.

Why I love it...
Paquette's first book in the series, Ghost in the House, is a perennial Halloween favorite my youngest daughter loves. I purchased the new one at a signing I did with Joan back in October. I plan to wrap it up and give it to my daughter on Christmas Eve. She'll no doubt recognize and appreciate the bouncy rhymes and adorable illustrations that echo the first book.

My favorite lines...
And the ELF goes third
on this snowy Christmas Eve,
In a line dance of jingle-bell hop!
Festive friends in a row,
Down the hall they go,
Until suddenly they hear. . .
CLIP-CLOP!
 
My favorite illustrations...

What's the kid-appeal?
The best part of Christmas Eve for those that celebrate is often the anticipation! Elf in the House will ramp up holiday cheer in the countdown to Christmas.

What's the grownup appeal?
Just like the first, this book is simple, sweet, and fun to read aloud. It's the perfect book to tuck  between leaving cookies out for Santa, and that goodnight, see-you-on-Christmas-morning kiss.

Where to find/ buy Elf in The House
Indie Booksellers
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Or at a school or library near you!

Ammi-Joan Paquette is the author of many books for young readers, including the spooky picture book Ghost in the House. In addition to her writing, she is a literary agent representing authors of children's books. She lives outside Boston with her family. Visit her on the web at www.ajpaquette.com.

Adam Record started doodling on a bench in church and now gets inspired by old children's books and vintage posters. He lives in Utah with his wife and three children. See more of Adam's work at www.adamrecord.com.

The Little Crooked Bookshelf

This week's bookshelf pick is from Cottager Anika Denise.

Ghost in the House
by Ammi-Joan Paquette
illustrated by Adam Record

What it's all about . . .
Ghost In The House is a pitch-perfect cumulative rhyming tale about a wee ghostie who meets up with a mummy, monster, skeleton, witch and so on, in a "creepy haunted house."

Why it's on The Little Crooked Bookshelf . . .
It's a brilliant read-aloud that reminds me of a childhood song or game, perfect for Halloween-themed story times. The book first released in 2013, but we reach for it every year when the air turns chilly and talk of costumes and trick-or-treating begins in earnest.

Our favorite lines . . .
There's a ghost in the house,/ In the creepy haunted house,/ on this dark, spooky night, all alone.

Our favorite illustration . . .  

From GHOST IN THE HOUSE by Ammi-Joan Paquette. Illustration copyright 2013 by Adam Record.

Why kids will love it . . .
Ammi-Joan Paquette's playful rhyming text, with its steady beats and dramatic pauses, begs for kids to join in the read-aloud. Likewise, Adam Record's characters are super-cute and not too scary for little ones who will relish the appearance of each new ghoulie.

Why grown-ups will love it . . .
For much the same reasons kids will. It's fun to read aloud. (Maybe add in a tickle here and there, too.) And rumor has it, there's a Elf-themed companion book on the way—so parents and librarians can read the first book, then follow up with an all-new installment come winter.

Spooky Reading for a Spooky Day

We have a treat for you today, just in time for Halloween! Children's book author and super agent, Ammi-Joan Paquette, has dropped by the Cottage to share her five favorite spooky books.  . . .                                             

Some days the sky is blue and the sunshine golden. Other days? Not so much. There’s something about the slate-gray of an overcast sky that can make a reader look for comfort in the pages of a book. Something synchronous, maybe, about finding an inner shiver to match the outer one.

For just those types of days, here are some of my favorite spooky reading titles:

WHEN THE SKY IS LIKE LACE
by Elinor Lander Horwitz
Illustrated by Barbara Cooney 
Viking, 2004

On a bimulous night, when the sky is like lace… So begins one of my very favorite read-alouds, just right for curling up tight with a cozy blanket, a steaming cup of hot chocolate, and your favorite reader tucked tight within your lap.

   

THE DARK 
by Lemony Snicket
Illustrated by Jon Klaasen 
Little, Brown, 2013

Who’s afraid of the dark? By turns spooky-scary and empowering, this picture book might be too much for the very youngest reader, but preschoolers and older will eat it up.
 
 

MY HAUNTED HOUSE 
by Angie Sage 
Katherine Tegen Books, 2008

This book launches a fabulous chapter book series, starring the irrepressible Araminta Spookie as she navigates a haunted house peopled with ghosts, haunted suits of armor, and a ghoulish surprise around every corner.

 
 


THERE’S A DEAD PERSON FOLLOWING MY SISTER AROUND  
by Vivian Vande Velde 
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008

This is a marvelous ghost story about a boy whose five-year-old sister has an imaginary friend… who turns out to be less imaginary and more… dead. By turns spooky and silly and moving, this is a great read that’s just right for a dark and stormy night.  
 

DEEP AND DARK AND DANGEROUS 
by Mary Downing Hahn 
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008

It all begins with a creepy old photograph in the attic… soon Ali and her friends are swept in a mystery that is both ghostly—and potentially deadly. Thrills and chills abound in this beautifully written story!

 



What spooky delights are YOU pulling out of your bookshelves today? Happy reading!

                                                              -------------------------
 And don't miss Ammi-Joan Paquette's own deliciously spooky tales -- GHOST IN THE HOUSE and RULES FOR GHOSTING!

GHOST IN THE HOUSE
by Ammi-Joan Paquette
Illustrated by Adam Record
Candlewick Press, 2013

Peek-a BOO! It was a dark and spooky night. Wait! Did you hear that? It sounds like it might be something scary! What is it? Turn the page and find out. . . . 

"The bouncy rhyme in this cumulative story is engaging, and the scariness level is just right for the very young. --The Horn Book
 

RULES FOR GHOSTING
by A.J. Paquette
Walker/Bloomsbury, 2013

The ghostly adventures of twelve-year-old Dahlia, along with her new living friends Oliver and Poppy, as they dodge a creepy Ghosterminator, a town official with devious plans, and set about solving the mystery of Dahlia's death before it's too late.

"As Dahlia and Oliver search for answers, surprising plot developments will keep readers re-evaluating the clues until the story's thrilling conclusion. Paquette's high-spirited tale featuring a benign, good-natured ghost offers readers an imaginative, intriguing mystery." --Kirkus

AMMI-JOAN PAQUETTE is an agent at Erin Murphy Literary Agency. She is also the author of the picture books Petey and Pru and the Hullabaloo, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Mermaids, as well as the novels Paradox and Nowhere Girl. She has several other books due out in the next few years. 

When she is not on the phone, answering email, or writing, you will most likely find Joan curled up with a book. Or baking something delicious. Or talking about something delicious she’s baked. Really, after books and food, what else is there worth saying?

For more about Ammi-Joan, visit her website: http://ajpaquette.com/