Maddie – A Little Ghost with a Secret

by

Cindy J. Vanous

illustrated by Steven Stewart

A sweet ghost with a sweet secret.

Maddie – A Little Ghost with a Secret is a cute children's Halloween-themed picture book by Cindy J. Vanous, perfect for even the youngest among us. Maddie is the ghost of a little girl who, along with her mother, father, and many others of her kind, inhabits the small, abandoned community of Terlingua, Texas. With its cheerfully optimistic, engaging main character and positive messaging, the story is simple, fun, and entertaining: one that will be requested on repeat for bedtime reading. 

I enjoyed how Maddie introduces her town, offering a simple explanation for why its former residents had moved away. While Maddie cavorts with her ghostly playmates, delighting in Halloween activities, readers are left to guess about her past and the era in which she may have lived. However, the look of the clothing worn by the main characters, especially Maddie's mother with her stylish pillbox hat and short skirt, seems to indicate the 1960s, perhaps. On the other hand, both Maddie and her father's attire harken back to an earlier time, at least pre-WWII, when the Terlingua mines were still in operation. There are many details in Steven Stewart's colorful illustrations to examine and ponder. However, because of the artwork's style, it was sometimes difficult to discern what some of the illustrations depicted on my tablet, so maybe a physical copy would offer more clarity. 

While Maddie's vibe is joyful, she is concerned about how she fits in with the rest of the ghosts in her community; all seem to have a special gift or talent, while she has yet to discover hers, or if she even has one. But it doesn't take long before she realizes that she does something that no other ghost does; she bakes and decorates tasty and adorable cupcakes that she secretly leaves around town for the people living there to enjoy. Her skill may not be like anyone else's, but it is uniquely hers, and with it she makes others happy. Younger listeners will easily relate to Maddie's worries and, with prompting, can begin to consider their own special skills or talents as they are read this sweet story. 

I recommend MADDIE – A LITTLE GHOST WITH A SECRET to young readers and for reading aloud at home, school, or in after-school programs. 

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Lone Star Literary Life Book Campaigns.