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Description
An eccentric babysitter has a knack for telling stories that are eerily well suited to her young charges.
When Carolina Giddle moves into the Blatchford Arms, no one knows what to make of her sequin-sprinkled sneakers and her trinket-crusted car. But the parents are happy there’s a new babysitter around, and Carolina seems to have an uncanny ability to calm the most rambunctious child with her ghostly stories.
Armed with unusual snacks (bone-shaped peppermints, granghoula bars and Rumpelstiltskin sandwiches), candles to set the mood, and her trusty sidekick — a tarantula named Chiquita, Carolina entertains the children with some good old-fashioned storytelling and, at the end, a great Halloween party.
Governor General’s Award winner Glen Huser brings his quirky sense of humor and horror to some time-honored motifs. The artistic Lubinitsky girls find out that artists must be wary of the power of their own creations. Holy terror Angelo Bellini discovers that no one can throw a tantrum like a double-crossed pirate. The Hooper kids, including UFO junkie Benjamin, learn about some eerie goings-on in the New Mexico desert. Timid Hubert and Hetty Croop are practically afraid of their own shadows, until they hear the story of a boy who finds the perfect weapon for overcoming his fear of the dark. And Dwight and Dwayne Fergus, two would-be Freddy Kruegers, finally meet their match in Carolina, and her story of the footless skeleton.
As for Carolina Giddle herself, it turns out that she has a timeworn connection to the Blatchford Arms, and to the ghost who still haunts the building — especially its old-fashioned elevator.
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.3
Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.9
Compare and contrast stories in the same genre (e.g., mysteries and adventure stories) on their approaches to similar themes and topics.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 8 to 11
- Grade:
- 3 to 6
- Reading age:
- 8 to 11
Awards
- Short-listed, CLA Book of the Year for Children Award
- Short-listed, Chocolate Lily Book Award (Chapter Book)
Editorial Reviews
The tales are relatively tame and are appropriate for readers new to the genre or those faint of heart.
— School Library Journal
These moderately scary stories should make great read-aloud sessions, making this perfect fare for Halloween.
— Booklist
The mix of humor and gentle spookiness make this a perfect classroom readaloud.
— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
The once-grand apartment setting, eccentric character names, and many candlelit storytelling sessions call to mind children’s novels of yesteryear. Innerst’s moody illustrations make Carolina’s eerie tales feel all the more real.
— Publishers Weekly
This middle-grade spookfest from Governor General Award winner Huser promises goose bumps and chills.
— Kirkus Reviews
For younger readers who are interested in things supernatural or spooky – from skeletons to bat-monsters to extraterrestrials – The Elevator Ghost offers a quirky approach to ghost stories without being overly frightening.
— Quill & Quire
