Robert Bright (1902–1988)

Georgie - the shy and gentle little ghost whose adventures began in the eponymous Georgie, and continued in twelve other picture-books, published from 1944-1983 - heads west in this seventh installment of the series, accompanying his human "family," the Whittakers, on vacation. Intimidated, at first, by the sheer size of everything out west, Georgie soon finds himself caught up in a mystery involving some stolen Indian ponies. Needless to say, he solves the case in his own inimitable show more style...

I have to confess that, although I have enjoyed the six Georgie books I have read thus far (there are thirteen altogether), I strongly suspected, going in, that I wouldn't care for Georgie Goes West. I was right. Not only does it have some of those stereotypical "Indian" images in it, the kind that scholar Debbie Reese rightly deconstructs, on her excellent blog, American Indians in Children's Literature, as examples of tribal confusion and homogenization - Kio, the little Indian boy whose horse has been stolen, looks to be living in a Pueblo-style village, but gives Georgie a full Plains-style war-bonnet - it also contains this gem: "Kio thought so and wanted to cry. But Indians aren't supposed to cry."

All Indian nations seen as interchangeable? Check! Indians portrayed as mythical uber-stoics who don't do all the normal human things? Check! Indians being helped along by benevolent whites? Check! Yes, you read that last one right. In 1973, the very same year that American Indian Movement activists were facing off against the FBI, at the Siege of Wounded Knee, this cheerful little picture-book was published, showing all the cowboys and sheriff's men racing off, in order to restore some stolen Indian property. Haha! The irony really is priceless! All of which is to say: this is decidedly not recommended: do yourself a favor, and skip this particular Georgie book! show less

One of thirteen picture-books, published from 1944 to 1983, that follow the adventures of a gentle little New England ghost, Georgie's Christmas Carol is a sweet send-up of Dickens' classic tale of holiday redemption. Scrooge, in this case, is named Mr. Gloams - a gloomy, crotchety old man who, alone amongst the villagers, despises Christmas - and his transformation, thanks to the letter to Santa written by his young niece and nephew, is effected, not by three ghostly visits, but by one. show more Georgie himself, of course, assisted by Miss Olive the owl, Herman the cat, and the harmless cow from next door!

Fans of Georgie will enjoy this holiday tale, with its charming, old-fashioned artwork - done in blue, with orange accents - and gentle tale of reviving the holiday spirit in the heart of one embittered old man. Although somewhat sentimental, I liked the fact that Mr. Gloams ends up being less villainous than lonely, and deeply dissatisfied with life. I don't know that Georgie's Christmas Carol ranks amongst my favorites, of Robert Bright's series - the initial volume, Georgie, and Georgie's Halloween hold that honor - but it is still an engaging book, recommended to younger children who like milder ghost stories, and sweet, old-fashioned holiday tales. show less

Georgie, the gentle little New England ghost whose story began in 1944, with the publication of the eponymous Georgie, returns for his second adventure in Georgie to the Rescue. When Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker - the human couple whose home Georgie haunts - decide to visit the city, taking Herman the cat with them, Georgie and Miss Oliver, the owl, go along as well. And when Miss Oliver is captured by the police(!) and shipped off to the zoo, Georgie and Herman set out to rescue her...

Although I show more didn't find this quite as engaging as the first, I still enjoyed it as a gentle tale of friendship and loyalty, and appreciated the old-fashioned charm of Robert Bright's black-and-white illustrations. I'm a little sad to think that I never discovered any of the thirteen books about Georgie, as a young girl, as I think I would have really loved them! Goodness knows, I adored the Dorrie, the Little Witch books! Better late than never, I suppose. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed the first Georgie book, or to young children who like tales of friendly ghosts. show less

When Georgie, Herman the cat, and Miss Oliver the owl go on vacation with their human couple, Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker, they finds themselves staying in a seaside cottage that is haunted by a very noisy and disruptive ghost named Captain Hooper. A local mouse explains that the good captain isn't bad, only distraught that he never had a chance to be a hero. And so he howls... every night! Georgie and his friends try their best to protect the Whittakers from Captain Hooper's noise, but there is show more little they can do. And then one night, the Whittakers fall asleep in their rowboat, and begin to drift out to sea...

The fifth Georgie book I have read, Georgie and the Noisy Ghost continues to cement my belief that this is a series I would have greatly enjoyed as a young girl! In fact, the story and illustrations - just as charming, in their old-fashioned way, as ever! - felt quite familiar in this one, making me wonder whether I had indeed encountered this gentle little ghost before, but forgotten it, somehow. In any case, this was another delightful tale, complete with happy ending, of the sweet New England spook and his friends! show less