Aggie and the Ghost -- Matthew Forsythe, Hardcover

An ALA Notable Children's Book
A New York Magazine Best New Book for Kids
A LitHub Most Anticipated Children's Book of 2025
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year

"This might be a perfect picture book." --Quill & Quire (starred review)

"A solitary child and her rule-breaking ghost roommate learn the value of compromise in this cheeky picture book. --Shelf Awareness (starred review)

"A book that captures the dance of unlikely bonds and a way to move from a place of acceptance." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

From Matthew Forsythe, the creator of the acclaimed and beloved Pokko and the Drum, comes a "subtle, sweet" (Booklist, starred review) picture book about rules. And sharing. And an epic game of tic-tac-toe.

Aggie is very excited to live on her own--until she finds out her new house is haunted. But no fear, the situation is nothing that can't be fixed with a carefully considered list of rules: No haunting after dark. No stealing socks. No eating all the food.

But the ghost doesn't like playing by the rules and challenges Aggie to an epic game of tic-tac-toe--winner gets the house.

Author: Matthew Forsythe
Publisher: Paula Wiseman Book/Beach Lane Books
Published: 08/19/2025
Pages: 64
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 11.10h x 8.85w x 0.57d
ISBN: 9781534478206
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 2.9
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 556429 / Aggie and the Ghost


Review Citation(s):
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2025
Publishers Weekly 05/12/2025
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2025
Booklist 07/01/2025 pg. 85
School Library Journal 08/01/2025 pg. 68
Horn Book Magazine 09/01/2025 pg. 41
Shelf Awareness 08/23/2025

About the Author
Matthew Forsythe is the author-illustrator of Pokko and the Drum, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, a recipient of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor, and a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. He is also an illustrator for animated films and television. His credits include Adventure Time, The Midnight Gospel, and Robin Robin, a stop-motion animated musical from Aardman Animations and Netflix. He lives in Los Angeles. Visit him at ComingUpforAir.net.