Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters

By: Rachel Kolar
Illustrated by: Roland Garrigue
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Publication Date: July 2018
ISBN: 978-1585363926
Reviewed by: Ellen Feld
Review Date: August 27, 2018

Get the candy corn ready for all the little ghouls who are headed your way, and while you're at it, grab a copy of Mother Ghost to help get your little monsters in the mood for a heck of a lot of fun!

For those who love Halloween (and how can you not love Halloween???), author Rachel Kolar's new book, Mother Ghost, is a wonderful addition to the bookshelf.  In this book, children will be delighted with the new spin she has put on several well-known nursery rhymes.  Not just clever, these re-imagined rhymes are downright funny.  Did you know that "Mary Had a Little Ghost" and can you guess "What Are Little Bats Made of?"  Your little ones will delight in learning just what "Wee Willie Werewolf" does when he "runs down the street."

We all know "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary," but what about "Mary, Mary, Tall and Scary"?

Mary, Mary, tall and scary,
How does your graveyard grow?
With buried bones and carved gray stones
And little ghosts all in a row.

A big part of what makes this book so much fun are the great illustrations. Roland Garrigue is a prolific illustrator of children's books who, according to his website, loves drawing monsters, vampires and witches, and it definitely shows up in his work. A bit surreal, the characters are goofy, non-threatening, and funny. Combine that with the clever rhymes and you have a definite winner. Enjoy!

Quill says: Your "little monsters" will love this new, spooky twist on their favorite nursery rhymes.