Review: Aggie and the Ghost

Aggie and the Ghost

Author and illustrator: Matthew Forsythe

Simon & Schuster, 2025

ISBN: 9781668081631 (hardcover)
9781668081648 (eBook)

$24.99 CAD (hardcover)
$14.99 CAD (eBook)

64 pages

Ages: 4 to 8 years

Aggie is excited to move out on her own, but discovers a ghost haunting her house. At first, Aggie tries to get along with the ghost by establishing some house rules. But the ghost constantly breaks them, leading Aggie to challenge the ghost to a game of tic-tac-toe: if the ghost loses, he must move out. They tie the game and return home together, but the next day the ghost is gone, and Aggie quickly realizes being alone is not everything she hoped for. Making one final rule, Aggie tells the ghost to never visit her every now and then, which, of course, the ghost breaks, and they become good friends (though not the best of friends). Illustrations are composed of soft lines and a cozy colour palette, which add additional meaning to the 2-4 lines of text per page. Aggie and the Ghost would make an excellent addition to a school or public library children’s collection for ages 4-8, as Aggie navigates setting boundaries with a companion that constantly oversteps.