"Gilbert the Ghost" by Guido Van Genechten is a short sweet children's book. The story tells of Gilbert, a cute and nice ghost. He goes to school like the other ghosts, but I stead of being scary and loud, Gilbert is friendly and quiet. One day the teacher tells Gilbert to leave since he is not able to be a scary ghost. He makes friends with Meow, a black cat. Soon a friendship begins. ( )

Gilbert the ghost doesn't quite fit in with his peers at ghost school in this charming picture-book from Belgian author/illustrator Guido Van Genechten. The little pink spook just can't seem to work up a scary "Boo!," and so enrages the school principle that he is sent to the Abandoned Tower. Here he makes friends with a little black cat named Meow, and the two create a cozy home for themselves, occasionally visited by Gilbert's former classmates, now out and about in the world, haunting castles and old fortresses...

Originally published in Belgium and the Netherlands as Spookje Spartacus, this rather tall picture-book is an absolute delight, pairing an engaging tale of a gentle little ghost and his unusual path through life(?) with wonderfully appealing artwork. Stories featuring a friendly ghost are not at all uncommon in the world of picture-books - think of Robert Bright's thirteen-volume Georgie series, Jane Thayer's Gus the Ghost books, and (of course) the many books about Casper, the Friendly Ghost - but this one still manages to feel fresh and winsome. I particularly liked the scenes featuring Gilbert and Meow, and can't help but wish that Guido Van Genechten would create more stories about these characters. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for spooky tales that are more on the gentle side. ( )