THE GHOST FAMILY MEETS ITS MATCH

In the 1880's, an explorer sets out for Africa; he never returns, and the Ghost family (Ivy, Igor, their parents and cat) moves in. Delighted with the cobwebs and bats, they succeed in scaring away a succession of other hopeful tenants until, in the 1980's, the Merrys arrive with their dog, greet the gruesome amenities with delight, and prove to be werewolves: welcome new friends for the Ghosts. Depicting the Ghosts as luminous green but otherwise ordinary, Rubel's tale is especially well realized in its witty illustrations where the various periods and haunts appear in amusingly weird detail among throngs of the explorer's intriguing African artifacts. Good fun, and sure to appeal. (Picture book. 4-8)