  | Gustavo, the shy ghost Author: Drago, Flavia Z. | |
| Price: $22.58 | ||
Summary:
Gustavo the ghost has a problem. He is very, very shy. He longs to make friends, but he's never even dared to speak to any of the other monsters in his town. With the Day of the Dead fast approaching, can Gustavo be brave enough to let others see him?
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| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: LG Reading Level: 2.50 Points: .5 Quiz: 509674 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (08/01/20)
School Library Journal (+) (06/01/20)
Booklist (05/15/20)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/09/20)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 05/15/2020 Gustavo is a shy, young ghost who has trouble making friends, despite wanting to join in games and fun with the other neighborhood monsters. His best efforts tend to end with him hiding—finding him in the illustrations is part of the book’s fun—or with the monster kids unwittingly looking right through him. Finally Gustavo musters up the courage to send out invitations to his violin concert, which will be held in the cemetery on the Day of the Dead. On the fateful night, the nervous ghost goes to the cemetery and finds it disappointingly empty. But that quickly changes once Gustavo beings to play his violin. Born and raised in Mexico City, Drago fills her sweet ghost story with vibrant colors, textures, and authentic details from Mexican culture. Her illustrations burst with whimsical flourishes and clever details that youngsters will want to pore over repeatedly. While ideal for Day of the Dead, this heartwarming story about bravely taking the first step toward friendship is wonderful for little listeners year-round. - Copyright 2020 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 06/01/2020 K-Gr 2—A cute ghost named Gustavo learns to overcome social anxiety in this sweet tale. Gustavo really wants to have friends, but no matter what he does, his shyness makes him invisible to the other monsters. To counter his inability to be recognized, Gustavo invites a group of monsters to watch him perform a violin concert on the Day of the Dead. Gustavo does what he loves most and finally, he can be seen by others. Ultimately, his life is changed because he shows his true self to the world. A side story involving Gustavo's love for "the prettiest monster" remains unexplored. This is a debut novel from Drago, a Mexican author and illustrator, and she deftly weaves in cultural references. The illustrations are bright and detailed. VERDICT Gentle storytelling and vibrant mixed-media illustrations make for an enjoyable seasonal story.—Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter Sch., Providence - Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
