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Children's Fiction General

This House is Haunted

by (author) Maureen Bayless

Publisher
Scholastic Canada Ltd
Initial publish date
Aug 2011
Category
General
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781443104913
    Publish Date
    Aug 2011
    List Price
    $5.99

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Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Age: 7 to 9
  • Grade: 3

Description

Moving into a new house can be a scary experience!

Howard's family has bought a new house — a new old house, that is. It has 29 rooms full of spiders and creaky noises. It has a dark, spooky basement. And it has a ghost. Howard can live with the rest, but he won't share a house with a ghost. Nuh-uh. No way. He'll do anything — even enlist the help of Punch McLaredy, the class bully, and his pet snake Chokey — to get that ghost out!

With a light-hearted tone, this story deals with issues of anxiety, bullying, fear and change, which are important curriculum and home life topics for this age group.

About the author

Awards

  • Commended, Best Books for Kids and Teens, Canadian Children's Book Centre

Excerpt: This House is Haunted (by (author) Maureen Bayless)

Howard. He wasn't sure if he was allowed to wipe it off.

"I dunno," replied Punch. "Nobody's ever actually done it before."

Howard wiped his tongue on his sleeve.

He told Punch about the house on Walnut Street.

Punch gave him a long look.

"I know that house," he said. "I knocked on the door one Halloween and a spooky voice said, 'Go-o-o a-wa-a-ay, Pu-unch!'"

"The ghost knew you name!" breathed Howard. This was one smart ghost.

"Yup," said Punch. "I broke a window there once. Probably remembered be from then. I wouldn't want to be you, that's for sure."

Howard wished he hadn't left Scruffy Monkey on his chair. He could really use him to hang on to right now.

"I need your help, Punch," he said desperately. "I need you to get rid of this ghost for me."

Punch laughed. It was a short, loud, rude laugh.

Librarian Reviews

This House is Haunted

Howard has moved into a new house. Well, a new old house. It has 29 creepy rooms and even a ghost! Howard will do anything to get rid of the ghost — even if that means facing a bully. Originally published in 1993, by Scholastic Canada as Howard’s House is Haunted in the Shooting Stars series (Our Choice 1993).

Source: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Best Books for Kids & Teens. Fall, 2012.