THE HUNGRY GHOSTS
by Julius Lester and illustrated by Geraldo Valério
When a sudden cold breeze wakes Malcolm David out of a sound sleep, he suspects ghosts and asks his ringring bird to wake him the next night “between Not-Yet-Yesterday and Almost-Tomorrow” to investigate. Sure enough, he finds Byron, Jessica and Lamont making certifiably spooky sounds. Only it isn’t them making the sounds, the ghosts assure him, it’s their stomachs. What’s a ghost to eat? The next day Malcolm David cleans his room and figures it out. Lester tells his story in his characteristically assured voice, rendering this long tale one that will read aloud with ease. Valério complements the text with fluid acrylics that gently play with the author’s whimsical imagery. Not just for Halloween, it’s a solid, not-too-scary ghost story for any season. (Picture book. 5-9)