Dixie Never Kick a Ghost and Other Silly Chillers

PreS-Gr 1—In the first appealing beginning reader, Gilman captures the antics of a devoted puppy and her owner as the child tries out for the lead in her school play. Mischief and mayhem ensue as Dixie attempts to help Emma learn her lines for the part of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. The colorful, realistic illustrations have strong context support and are well balanced on the page, providing a warmhearted perspective to the story line. Children with the acting bug will enjoy Emma's excitement up through performance day, delighting when Dixie gets a lead part, too. Never Kick a Ghost is a collection of stories filled with suspense, silliness, and chills. The whimsical, full-color illustrations enliven the texts. The stories' origins are explained in the back matter. This is a supplementary early reader, particularly for Halloween.—Melissa Smith, Royal Oak Public Library, MI