Emily Herman

Hubknuckles the ghost visits Lee and her family every Halloween in this sweetly spooky holiday story from Maine, floating and dancing in the twilight outside their window before departing once again. This year, determined to prove that Hubknuckles isn't really a ghost, but one of their parents dressed up in a sheet, Lee informs her younger siblings that she intends to dance with their guest. Although more and more frightened as evening draws near, Lee does end up dancing with Hubknuckles, show more who gently shepherds her back toward the house, where she makes an extraordinary discovery...

This engaging Halloween tale has just the right blend of sweetness - the warmth of home and family, the pleasure of holiday preparations, the excitement of a party - and spookiness - the shadowy twilight outside, the appearance of the ghostly Hubknuckles, the discovery that both mother and father were inside when he appeared - making it an excellent selection for younger children who enjoy a shivery read that isn't too frightening. I particularly enjoyed the black-and-white artwork by Deborah Kogan Ray, who is the author/illustrator of a number of wonderful picture-book biographies. The scenes in which Lee, dressed up as a witch herself, dances with Hubknuckles (see the cover illustration for an example) are especially well done! show less

Hubknuckles is a ghost who traditionally appears on Halloween. A little girl decides that Hubknuckles is really just her mother or father. She decides to show her siblings that she is no longer afraid of this imaginary ghost by going out to dance with the ghost when it appears. The ending leaves the reader wondering if Hubknuckles is truly fantasy.

We read this once ... or twice a year! It's great!