How to Get Rid of Ghosts

K-Gr 2—Resourceful youngsters use their wits and teamwork to outsmart the featured creatures. A boy and girl blow on a wolf until he floats away. Two older children keep witches away with pepper, and another child blasts ghosts away with a hair dryer. The children behave in empowering ways, but some of the tricks they use are just plain silly. Would a witch really be scared of a mouse, or would a brother send a wolf next door to eat his sister? In addition, parts of the books are distasteful and destructive. The author suggests children should "pretend to be stupid" in order to sneak into a library of magic books. They are told that in order to protect their favorite books from ghosts, they should "highlight the pictures and words with your brightest red pen!" Sometimes the writing is clunky and accompanied by frightening illustrations, such as the pages of a dad and a child holding a gun. Despite the spirited and accomplished cartoon art, these books fail to impress.—Tanya Boudreau, Cold Lake Public Library, AB, Canada