The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs

A bravely curious child’s persistence helps a solitary spirit find connection in Shiotani’s softly told story about overcoming fear. The narrative follows a conventional arc: in the attic, a little ghost lives “Alone. Just as he liked it.” When the specter, who’s afraid of leaving his space, ventures outside one night, he’s spotted by a human child, portrayed with pale skin and dark hair, who resides one story below. After she begins frequenting the attic, the ghostly protagonist tries every trick possible to scare her off (“He lurked. He lingered. He dropped things”), finally slipping into the youth’s bedroom to deliver a big “BOO!” Consistent with her previously displayed calm, the child’s reaction is to suggest a daytime playdate, and the story wraps up with promising wisps of a friendship. Rendered in charcoal pencil, meticulous hand-drawn illustrations stick to a palette of grays, with spot pastel coloring suggesting the gradual brightening of the shade’s mood and world. Ages 3–6. (Aug.)