Overview

A LitHub Most Anticipated Children’s Book of 2025 “A book that captures the dance of unlikely bonds and a way to move from a place of acceptance.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A solitary child and her rule-breaking ghost roommate learn the value of compromise in this cheeky picture book. —Shelf Awareness (starred review) From Matthew Forsythe, the creator of the acclaimed and beloved Pokko and the Drum, comes a “subtle, sweet” (Booklist, starred review) picture book about rules. And sharing. And an epic game of tic-tac-toe. Aggie is very excited to live on her own—until she finds out her new house is haunted. But no fear, the situation is nothing that can’t be fixed with a carefully considered list of rules: No haunting after dark. No stealing socks. No eating all the food. But the ghost doesn’t like playing by the rules and challenges Aggie to an epic game of tic-tac-toe—winner gets the house.

Full Product Details

9781534478206

Table of Contents

Reviews

Pale-skinned, short-haired Aggie, who looks something like a woodland sprite in signature watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil art from Forsythe (Mina), is thrilled to move into her own forest home. But the new digs come with an unexpected resident: a one-eyed ghost who isn’t scary—just supremely present. The ghost follows Aggie everywhere, pilfering her socks, devouring her cheese, and breaking with impunity every boundary the child sets. When Aggie seeks relief and solitude in a forest rainstorm, the ghost shows up there, too— wearing her scarf (“I needed to get out of the house,” it explains). Exasperated, Aggie challenges the ghost to a furious, winner-takes-all game of tic-tac-toe, only to discover that they’ve each met their match. When the ghost unexpectedly vanishes instead of continuing its bad-roomie antics, Aggie realizes, to her surprise, that she misses its presence—just a little. How Aggie navigates their relationship is one of the many astute moments of comedy in a book that captures the dance of unlikely bonds and a way to move from a place of acceptance. Ages 4–8. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary. (Aug.) -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW * 5/12/2025 *

* The third picture book from Forsythe confirms the author-illustrator’s trademark style, marked by whimsical storytelling, absurd humor, and surprising page-turns.... Forsythe’s wry text is tight and deadpan, set against a richly rendered setting of softly blended peaches and blues, a bit more stripped down than in previous titles, holding a tone that is at once inviting and immersive—but with a gentle edge.... A subtle, sweet friendship story from a true original coming into his full picture-book powers. -- Booklist STARRED REVIEW * July 2025 * [T]he book as a whole successfully leans more toward weird than pedantic, eschewing a familiar friendship storyline for one that plenty of introverted youngsters will find resonant. There’s lots of potential here for beginning readers, with stealthy repetition, short but guiding sentences, and a steady, compelling pace, all elevated by snarky humor. -- BCCB * June 2025 * A witty year-round ghost tale that delivers a wonderfully unconventional conclusion.  -- Kirkus * June 15, 2025 * [A] book that captures the dance of unlikely bonds and a way to move from a place of acceptance.  -- Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW * 5/12/2025 *

Author Information

Matthew Forsythe is the author-illustrator of Pokko and the Drum, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a recipient of the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award Honor, and a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. He is also an illustrator for animated films and television. His credits include Adventure Time, The Midnight Gospel, and Robin Robin, a stop-motion animated musical from Aardman Animations and Netflix. He lives in Los Angeles. Visit him at ComingUpforAir.net.

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