Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: Ghostly Holler-day by Daren King and David Roberts
| Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: Ghostly Holler-day by Daren King and David Roberts | |
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| Category: Confident Readers | |
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Reviewer: Ruth Ng
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| Summary: Ghostly silliness that's funny rather than scary. | |
| Buy? Yes | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 128 | Date: September 2010 |
| Publisher: Quercus | |
| ISBN: 978-0857380456 | |
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After scaring all the still-alives from their house we're back with the frightfully friendly ghosties who, since it's winter, have decided that they need a holler-day. After an argument over their destination (will it be Frighten-on-Sea or Scare-borough?) they receive a postcard from their friend, Headless Leslie. He is in Frighten and has forgotten how to get back home! So, off they go to Frighten to enjoy the delights of a haunted pier and fun fair and to try and rescue Headless Leslie from whatever trouble he has landed himself in.
There is a lot of silliness in this book, especially Charlie Vapour who is a sort of 1940's ghost who keeps on doffing his hat all the time and reminded me of Leslie Phillips in a dodgy-dealing, oozing-charm kind of way. The ghosts are forever wisping off, through cracks and wood knots and have their own little quirks. They also seem to have their own special skills, but ask the others to look away when performing them, which made me smile.
Although ghostly, there's nothing really scary in the book. They do encounter a large, cloaked figure, who turns out to be a magician, but the story is so lightly told that it's clear there's no real danger. This is a book for eliciting giggles, not hiding under the duvet.
There are pen and ink drawings throughout the story, and I felt these added a lot to the text. They are a mix of charming little sketches and full page illustrations (my favourites were the ones of the mysterious, cloaked magician). They help you imagine the characters as something other than stereotypical white sheet ghosts, and add humour to the story.
I personally didn't find the book terribly funny - nothing to do with it being silly, I love silly - it just didn't tickle my funny bone somehow. But I could see how a lot of children would enjoy all the ghost-related word play, and the general silliness of the ghosts themselves, the ridiculous repetition and the daft plot. I wouldn't fancy reading and re-reading this aloud as a bedtime story, but I imagine it would make a lovely gift for a confident reader to sit and giggle over by themselves.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
Further reading suggestion: The Frightfully Friendly Ghosties - the first book in the series - or you might like to try some of Daren King's other stories
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You can read more book reviews or buy Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: Ghostly Holler-day by Daren King and David Roberts at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: Ghostly Holler-day by Daren King and David Roberts at Amazon.com.
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Kayli B said:
My nephew and niece loved this completely. They giggled for hours and it kept them very busy for hours. They are aged 7 and 11 which made the book even more of a bargain as both ages could read it.
They are now flying off around the house pretending to be friendly ghosties and I for one can’t wait for the next book – please…
Kayli B
