Gracie Meets a Ghost ( Ages 2 to 5)
By : Keiko Sena
Publisher : Museyon Press ( October 2016 )
A multi-themed translation of the famous Japanese author Keiko Sena, it is a book that offers simple humor and excitement for kids, while addressing issues of bespectacled kids and nighttime fears. The book is also suitable to start up a discussion on Halloween or on nocturnal animals. It`s captivating set of events, together with the colorful illustrations will keep the kids engrossed until the end.
Gracie starts wearing glasses and her friends tease her for that. One day she goes off to play with her bunny friends in the mountains. They have lots of fun playing around, but that night when she is going to sleep Gracie realizes that she has lost her glasses. And she walks into the woods to look for them. In the darkness the short-sighted little bunny mistakenly pulls at an owl's eyes first, and then a tail of a mouse. A very bored ghost watches her from behind a tree in the dark woods, it has been a while since he scared anyone and the excited ghost jumps out and yells "BOO" but what a disappointment for the ghost; the little bunny seems not scared at all! Gracie explains to the ghost why she`s not scared of him, "No I can`t see well because I lost my glasses." Planning to scare the little bunny off her wits, the ghost starts to look for her glasses while Gracie takes a nice break .............
With a lovely selection of matte hues the book's descriptive and clear illustrations are capable of telling the story on its own. And the text effortlessly get the kids involved in the storytelling, " What is that? / Is that a balloon? / Is it a sheet flapping in the wind? "
This story reminds me of the rich, ravishing Japanese "Obon" festival - when the spirits of the dead ancestors come to visit their relatives - The colorful and elaborate event; full of traditional activities, elegant dances and lovely lanterns falls in August. And is the Japanese equivalent of Halloween,This book therefore suits Halloween as much as for Obon. Though the book does not mention the Obon festival it might provide an opportunity to introduce this beautiful Japanese event to the kids as well. Surely we can look forward to seeing more of this rich cultural festival of Japan at the next summer Olympics when it will take place in Tokyo between July and August! Have a lovely ghostly read aloud !
( With many thanks to Museyon Press and Netgally for the ARC )
