Kay Winters

That timid Teeny Tiny Ghost, who debuted in author Kay Winters and illustrator Lynn Munsinger's eponymous The Teeny Tiny Ghost, returns in this second picture book romp, this time confronting a haunting at his own house. Having just been brave on the playground of his teeny tiny school, our spectral hero gathers his courage (and his cats), and goes to confront the spook who has invaded his home, making a surprise discovery in the process...

For some reason, I got the order of the three books in this series mixed up, reading the third, The Teeny Tiny Ghost and the Monster before this one. It's a little past the Halloween season, but my request for Whooo's Haunting the Teeny Tiny Ghost? finally came in at the library, and I am happy to finish out the trilogy, even if out of order. This entry was, like the other two books, quite charming, pairing an engaging story of a timid ghost who is himself being haunted, with expressive and amusing illustrations. I continue to be delighted with the Teeny Tiny Ghost's two little black cats, who always seem to add some appeal to the visuals. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed the first book about this character, as well as to those looking for Halloween stories featuring a timid ghost who overcomes his fear.… (mere)

That timid little ghost, who first appeared in author/illustrator team Kay Winters and Lynn Munsinger's The Teeny Tiny Ghost, before reprising his role in Whooo's Haunting the Teeny Tiny Ghost?, returns in this third Halloween adventure, this time confronting a number of scary situations, from bullies to monster making. With the Spook and Spirit Club running a Halloween contest for best monster, the Teeny Tiny Ghost's classmates are all agog, eager to win the prize, and create the best and most monstrous creature. Our spectral hero is too frightened to complete the assignment at first, but after he ends up in the town dump, while running away from some bullies, inspiration strikes...

Like its predecessors, I found the story in The Teeny Tiny Ghost and the Monster quite sweet, and while it contained no surprises, I think many younger children will find someone with whom they can identify, in the eponymous spook. After all, contending with bullies and struggling with unwelcome school assignments are common childhood experiences. The accompanying illustrations from Munsinger, whose work I know primarily from the Tacky the Penguin books, are expressive, managing to be both heartwarming and creepy (especially around the eyes). Unsurprisingly, given the fact that I am a cat lover, the reappearance of the Teeny Tiny Ghost's two teeny tiny cats in this second book was a welcome development for me. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed the first two books about this character, as well as to those looking for Halloween fare featuring a timid hero who makes good.… (mere)

A very timid specter, the Teeny Tiny Ghost was afraid of almost everything, from learning to howl and yeowl, to the noises coming from outside his house, on Halloween night. Cowering with his two teeny tiny black cats, he resisted the booming knock at the door for as long as he could before, mustering his courage, he answered as loudly as possible. The result of his thunderous boo and whoo and howl were not what he expected however...

Obviously drawing inspiration from the traditional English folktale of The Teeny Tiny Woman, who steals a bone from the graveyard for her soup and is haunted by a ghost who wants it back, author Kay Winters spins a story from the perspective of a Teeny Tiny Ghost, one who is not fearsome, but rather, frightened. The story is sweet (if a bit predictable in its conclusion), and I think younger children will enjoy seeing the eponymous spook grow in courage, and find his reward in the good fellowship and fun with his teacher and fellow students, at the close of the book. The accompanying illustrations from Lynn Munsinger, whose work I know primarily from the Tacky the Penguin books, are appealing. I enjoyed the expressions of the Teeny Tiny Ghost and his cat companions, and I particularly liked the scene in which all the ghosts are flitting through the trees, on Halloween night. Recommended to picture book readers and audiences who enjoy stories about gentle ghosts (of which there are no shortage). For my part, I do plan to track down the two sequels.… (mere)