The Hungry Ghosts by Julius Lester

Lester, Julius The Hungry Ghosts, 40 pgs. Dial, 2009. $16.99. Language - G; Sexual Content - G; Violence - G. A small boy named Malcolm David discovers that there are ghosts that come out at night in a cemetery near his house. Their loud wails scare him, but after chasing them down, he learns that they aren't trying to be scary. The noise that the three ghosts are making is actually coming from their stomachs, they are starving! They can't figure out what to eat since they are ghosts though. Malcolm has to clean his room, and discovers that the old leftover food in his room has turned into ghosts. He has blueberry, apple, orange and banana ghosts. The ghosts explain to him that everything has a ghost. He takes his fruit ghosts to the three ghosts in the cemetery and they can finally eat a meal. This picture book uses a lot of good imagery. It could be used to teach metaphors and similes. The story was a bit strange though. EL - OPTIONAL. Anna Mattheus, Elementary Teacher.