Gustavo the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago – Book Review
Gustavo the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago – Book Review
Gustavo the Shy Ghost
Author – Flavia Z. Drago
Publisher – Walker Books
Pages – 40
Released – 21st September 2021
ISBN-13 – 978-1406398502
Format – ebook, paperback, audio
Rating – 4 Stars
I received a free copy of this book.
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Synopsis
Gustavo is a ghost. He is good at doing all sorts of paranormal things, like walking through walls, making objects fly and glowing in the dark. And he loves playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo also has a problem. He is SHY. Which means some things are harder for him to do, like getting in a line to buy eye-scream or talking to the other monsters.
But Gustavo longs to be a part of something, he longs to be seen. More than anything, he wants to make a friend. So, plucking up all his courage, he sends a very special letter: “Dear Monsters, I would like to invite you to my violin concert at the Day of the Dead party…”
With exquisite detail and humour, Flavia Z. Drago’s vivid illustrations tell a sweet and offbeat story of friendship and courage.
Review by Stacey
Gustavo is a ghost, a very, very shy ghost. He doesn’t know how to make friends with the other monsters and feels like no one can ever see him. What he does like is playing his violin.
One day Gustavo has an idea. He writes a letter to the other monsters inviting them to his Day of the Dead concert which he is holding in the cemetery where he will play his violin for them and hopefully they will like it and become his friend. But will his plan work?
The first things that I noticed about this book are how large it is, around A4 size, and how amazing the illustrations are both on the bright cover and the more subtle drawings inside. There is so much to see on every page.
You might be expecting a children’s book featuring ghosts and monsters to be scary, but it certainly isn’t. Gustavo is exceptionally cute. He loves being helpful, he’s kind, and he adores playing the violin. The monsters in the book do normal things like playing together, eating ‘ice-scream’, and walking their pets.
This is a beautiful book that would be especially helpful for a shy child, as they will be able to identify with the main character, even if he is a ghost. It is a fantastic read, it has a lovely message to it, and will keep children entertained. The perfect read for Halloween or for Day of the Dead, which will also be a talking point for the readers.
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Flavia Z. Drago was born and raised in Mexico City. As a child, she wanted to be a mermaid. When that didn’t happen, she began her career as a graphic designer and a children’s book illustrator.
She loves color, textures, and shapes and enjoys creating them with different materials and a bit of digital sorcery. Her first picture book, Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, has been highly acclaimed. She lives in Mexico.
