Gilbert and the Ghost

PreS-Gr 2–A ghost resides at 632 Savannah Street—at least that’s what Gilbert, a young boy with dark hair and pale skin, believes. He senses the lonely ghost in the old, dusty mauve house: “Gilbert knew how hard it was to make friends, especially when you were invisible.” His family doesn’t believe in ghosts; they offer logical explanations for his suspicion and encourage him to focus on making friends at school. Gilbert feels invisible among his classmates, and he is often depicted physically distant or looking away from the people around him. He attempts to connect with the ghost, leaving handmade gifts outside of the looming, haunted house. One day, as Gilbert sits alone at the park in the shadow of 632 Savannah Street, a young, mysterious girl with braided pigtails approaches. In quiet company, the two draw pictures side-by-side, and when he glances at what the girl drew, Gilbert is astonished by what he sees. Mason’s moody illustrations heighten the mystery surrounding 632 Savannah Street, depicting an overcast and subdued autumnal atmosphere with lingering mist and blustery winds fanning trees of ochre leaves. Stigall’s Halloween-adjacent story can be read year-round for both its mystery and the heartfelt longing to be seen and understood. Reminiscent of Maggie Edkins Willis’s Little Ghost Makes a Friend, but with a more realistic tone, this sensitive story will resonate with readers who understand the difficulty of making friends when you feel invisible.