We're going on a ghost hunt by Martha Mumford

Martha Mumford and Cherie Zamazing, authors of We’re going to a birthday party,  We’re going on a sleigh ride, and We’re looking for the perfect hug return with another romp that is perfect for Halloween. In a lift-the-flap board book five bunnies, all dressed ready for Halloween with hats, cloaks, pumpkins and treats, set out to find the ghosts and invite the reader to join the fun hunt.

We’re going on a ghost hunt
Come and join the fun!
Can you find them all?
Yes! Run, run, run!

Then the reader can lift the flaps and find what is underneath. Is there a ghost or a little animal? As the four rabbits run through the night they encounter little bats, (Swoosh, dive, EEP!), snowy owls, (Don’t get a fright!(, warty toads, (Ribbet, ribbet, leap!), a witch’s cat and the little mouse and finally they run home after getting a fright in the witch’s house. The story flows beautifully with lots of repetition, which adds to the fun of the story as readers can repeat the refrains. Beginner readers will have fun predicting what comes next and working out the new vocabulary.

The cute illustrations give the reader the feeling of the mysterious night that the little rabbits are running through but are not too frightening for the younger reader. I loved the little mouse that often appeared and enjoyed looking for it on the different pages, also smiling at the humorous activities that the rabbits got up to. And the drawings of the ghosts are a treat, especially on the final page where they are happily gathered around a cauldron filled with toffee apples.

A great read-aloud, packed with fun for Halloween, this is certain to be a book that young children will ask to be read again and again.

Themes: Halloween, Ghosts.

Pat Pledger