I had opted for this because of the cover and the book turned out to be almost as sweet as indicated, but not outstanding.

Gilbert loves some aspects of being a ghost but he doesn’t like saying “Boo”, he doesn’t want to haunt anyone and wants to be polite. When the principal of his Ghost school sends him to the Abandoned Tower as a punishment, Gilbert comes into his own and makes the best of his situation.
I liked the subtle message that comes out in the story about being yourself and making the best of your surroundings. But the content felt incomplete somehow. And it seemed like Gilbert’s punishment was permanent. His other ghost friends came to visit him at the Abandoned Tower after they finished their ghostly hauntings and at his place they behaved well. But Gilbert was never made part of the community again, and his parents don’t seem to be bothered. The ending was abrupt and unfinished for me.

The illustrations are adorable. I loved them more than the story.

If you are looking for a cute story without any significant message or moral, this would be a decent choice. But if you have kids who question everything, be prepared to be faced with queries.

I’m usually very generous with children’s books but this one somehow failed to hit the mark for me.

3.25 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Clavis Publishing, for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Gilbert isn't like the other ghosts. He's quiet and gentle. This is a wonderful story about being yourself and not letting others pull you away from that.

Cute little picture book about Gilbert the Ghost who doesn't want to be scary and instead finds a friend who allows him to be himself. It felt like there should have been more to the story and like it ended abruptly. There's not necessarily a clear message, and I had to stop and think at the end about what the purpose of the story was. I love the illustrations, the cover is what first drew me in. But ultimately, the story fell short.

"Gilbert the Ghost" is a very sweet story about a ghost that is different from others.

I absolutely adored the art-style in this book, it's easy and very pleasant to look at. The pages have little text on them, but the art in the background is a thing that can keep a child's attention for a while, so I think that the amount of text on one page is suitable.

The only critique that I might have is also a complement to the author - I think that the story is a bit too short! I would love to have a few more pages of Gilbert, mainly at the beginning of the book.

To sum up, I think that the book is beautifully written and drawn and that every child that reads it will love it and want more of Gilbert's stories.

This story is sweet and endearing. A clear story of finding acceptance and finding your place. Very wholesome!

Adorable little children's story about finding your own path and how you accept yourself through that choice.

Not everyone has to follow the same path. Different roads work for different people.
And sometimes, you'll still end up meeting and enjoying company from those different paths now that you've gone another way.

**Thank you to Clavis Publishing and NetGallery for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **

Gilbert is an adorable little ghost who is born different. He's pink, not scary, doesn't like to haunt and always uses his manners. His parents realize and confirm that he truly is special.

Off he goes to ghost school and it's there that he realizes how different he really is. The principal of the school is not impressed that Gilbert does not have ghost-like qualities and punishes Gilbert by sending him off to the Abandoned Tower until he changes and becomes like all his peers at the school. Poor Gilbert.

In the Abandoned Tower Gilbert meets someone who has special qualities too. Together they form a friendship and affirm each other's uniqueness. That special bond creates a fun, positive world for both of them. This heartwarming story celebrates differences, fitting in, and being who you are created to be. The illustrations are wonderful and Gilbert Ghost is a real sweetheart. I highly recommend this book.

This book was really cute. I adored the illustrations and how Gilbert visually stood out from other ghosts. I wish there had been a little more to the plot and that we could've found out more about why Gilbert was so different. Overall, though, this was a sweet story about how its okay to not fit in.

This is a cute book which some might think has a Halloween theme but it's so much more. Gilbert is different from the other Ghosts and that's more than okay. Reading this story with your little ones might open up all sorts of discussions so snuggle in for some quality time and enjoy Gilbert the Ghost.

Gilbert the Ghost is not your typical ghost. In fact he is much more. He is thoughtful and quiet. He is also polite and friendly. A delightful story about ghosts and how it is ok to be different.

A special thank you to Clavis Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

The illustrations were the highlight of this book for me. The story and writing were just okay. I understand and appreciate the message that it's okay to be different, but I do wish Gilbert was at least a little bit more "ghosty". He could have been a friendly ghost and still did ghosty things, but instead he seemed to lose his identity completely in the second half of the book.

Such a cute book! My 15 month old daughter loves it! She kept asking me to read it over and over again. We will definitely be reading this book again during Halloween! Well done!

Absolutely stunning illustrations! I'm amazed how well the story is built for so few pages! It speaks of love and acceptance. It shows how being different doesn't make you a tad bit worse and that's truly a good thing to teach kids!

This was the story of Gilbert who was born different than the other ghosts and from the beginning his family knew he was special. When he goes to Ghost School he encounters difficulties because he is unable to be scary and mean like his principal wants him to be. I thought this would be a fun book to read with kids around Halloween that isn't scary. It was cute but I had a few issues with it. Gilbert is punished to the Abandoned Tower. While there, he makes friends with a black cat and they create a happy safe place for them and welcome the other ghosts to visit. This is great. But I was left wondering how does Gilbert cope with being different without isolating himself? What about the principal? Does he just leave Gilbert there? Is this ok that the adult in the story that is in charge is the bully that abandons Gilbert when he is having difficulty? Also, there is a sign that says the principal is crazy - should he be in charge of Ghost School then? I was not comfortable with the way he was portrayed. The ending was abrupt and doesn't allow for any growth or reflection on how to live within the Ghost School. So my perception of the story was that those with differences should remove themselves and not be included with the "normal" ghosts. I'm uncomfortable with this. Having a safe place is important but also teaching inclusion is as well. I would not recommend this story for children, especially those that are dealing with differences and how to participate in social settings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Clavis Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A sweet children’s story that tells the tale of Gilbert, a ghost who has always been unique. When faced with having to be what everyone expects him to be, and what he feels he truly is meant to be - he finds himself.

The overall message is very sweet, and the illustrations are beautiful.

My only concern, is it says “Gilbert stammered”, and then he is sent away - it appears that Gilbert is scolded because of his stammer. As a mom with a 6 year old who has a best friend with a prominent stutter, this hit us. It is a book we simply wouldn’t have in our home, because we would not want our best friend to read it and his take away be that the ghost’s stammer is why he was sent away.

Perhaps the author could say “Gilbert faltered”, or some other word that doesn’t indicate that his fault is speech related. “Stutter” and “stammer” are interchangeable in speech therapy for children, and those who struggle with it will not realize the use of them in a children’s book as a verb isn’t meant to actually mirror their condition (a noun).

If this word would be changed, I would re-review and re-rate.

Gilbert ist anders als die anderen Geister in der Schule. Er mag es gar nicht, gruselig zu sein und zu lernen, wie man andere erschreckt. Er kriegt nicht mal ein richtiges "BOO" raus.
Eines Tages wird er deswegen von seinem Lehrer in einen alten Turm verbannt, um sich zu bessern und ein richtiges Gespenst zu werden.
Dort trifft er auf eine Katze und die beiden werden Freunde. Gemeinsam dekorieren sie den Turm wie es ihnen gefällt und Gilbert beschließt einfach dort zu bleiben.

Ein schönes Kinderbuch über das Anderssein und dass jeder seinen eigenen Platz in dieser Welt wählen und finden kann.

Than you Netgalley for the e-book of Gilbert the Ghost by Guido Van Genechten in exchange for my review.

I thought Gilbert the Ghost was going to be a cute story. Just look how cute Gilbert is! But I really didn't like the story much at all. The writing wasn't that good. Sad to say, but I would not purchase this book for anyone.

Guido Van Genechten’s book, Gilbert the Ghost, is a lovely story about embracing your individuality. Gilbert is unlike the other ghosts, he’s different and stands out. When he is punished for not being like the others, Gilbert focuses on creating a safe space from himself along with a special companion.

This book has a timeless message about being true to yourself, and can be enjoyed all year round, not just around Halloween! I really loved the illustrations and would recommend this to kids of all ages!

Thank you to NetGalley and Clavis Publishing for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

An easy to read story that is quick for the classroom and simple for the children to understand. There are humorous parts where the children can laugh along with Gilbert, but the main take away from the book is evident.
The story is about acceptable, diversity, and how it's okay to be different.
A great story for young children to read and explore the difficult concept of diversity.

I love how this author has written Gibert as a ghost, which is typically thought to be something scary, and turned him into someone we can relate to. I also liked how the author included his own interaction with Gilbert at the end. The illustrations are also very well done! I'll be adding this to my recommendations to people with younger children!