Published: 2020
Series: A Little Ghost Quilt Book series
Author: Riel Nason
Illustrator: Byron Eggenschwiler
Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Ghosts, Fiction, Holiday, Fantasy, Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Storytime
Audience (Grade Levels): Prek-3
Number of Stars: 5-Stars
Goodreads Link: The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt
Triggers: Inclusion
Review By: Heather Kent
Publisher’s Summary:
Ghosts are supposed to be sheets, light as air and able to whirl and twirl and float and soar. But the little ghost who is a quilt can’t whirl or twirl at all, and when he flies, he gets very hot. He doesn’t know why he’s a quilt. His parents are both sheets, and so are all of his friends. (His great-grandmother was a lace curtain, but that doesn’t really help cheer him up.) He feels sad and left out when his friends are zooming around and he can’t keep up. But one Halloween, everything changes. The little ghost who was a quilt has an experience that no other ghost could have, an experience that only happens because he’s a quilt . . . and he realizes that it’s OK to be different.
Review:
This is a great book for the spooky holiday season. It takes a ghost who is a little bit different from his family and friends and not only finds a way for him to be special but connect with humans in a positive way. The little ghost finds a way to make Halloween special for a little girl and has a story to tell to all of his friends that evening. It is not only a great story but sends the message to children that everyone is special and can be helpful in their own way. The illustrations are beautiful and would make a great Halloween gift for someone special in your life.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) / Character Education: This book is an excellent tool for teaching children about inclusion, self-acceptance, and celebrating differences. It helps young students understand that being different from their peers or family members is not a disadvantage, but rather a unique trait that can help them make their own special impact on the world.
- Library Connection: For a library storytime or classroom activity, have children design their own unique paper “ghost” patterns. Instead of standard white sheets, encourage them to use colorful construction paper, fabric scraps, or patterned wallpaper to decorate their ghosts. Afterward, students can share one special, unique quality about themselves or their creation, reinforcing the story’s core message that everyone is special in their own way.
Readalikes:
- Stumpkin by Lucy Ruth Cummins
- How to Make Friends with a Ghost by Rebecca Green
- Sir Simon: Super Scarer by Cale Atkinso
- Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago
- Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
- Hardly Haunted by Jessie Sima
