This book was absolutely adorable! Halloween is my favorite holiday, and so I always look for kids books for my kids centered around Halloween. Thanks to NetGalley I received an ARC of this book to read to my kids and it was perfect. I love how silly it was (so did my kids!). It even earned a smile from my 1 year old. I plan to buy this once it is published to keep on our bookshelf. This is the type of book I foresee reading over and over again to my kids all year round. Not only was the book adorable, but the pictures were great and the message was great too. Thank you for giving me a chance to discover this great book!

Ghost Says Meow! is a delightful book for Halloween. My 4 year old niece couldn't stop laughing when the ghosts said anything but BOO! The message about being yourself and not following what others do is subtle, but done in a way that is easy for children to understand. I can see this book being read over and over during spooky season. I also loved the illustrations!

Thank you NetGalley and Jolly Fish Press for providing an ARC in exchange for honest thoughts.

This was a fun and silly read, perfect to read aloud to babies and to read with toddlers. The illustrations are vibrant and charming. Great book to get in the Halloween mood with little ones.

I read this book to my four-year-old nephew. He absolutely loved the illustrations and wanted to draw some of the characters after we finished it.

It was a short and simple read, so I do not think it would be a book my 7-year-old nephew would gravitate to, but for those with pre-K and kindergarten kids will love this book.
Especially around Halloween or fall.

This delightful book is perfect for my Pre-K students. I would include this in a social emotional lesson teaching students about how it's okay to be different. In this story, Ghost says everything but "Boo." Ghost encourages others to make other noises and not stick to just one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lauren Kukla for this advance reader copy.

My Halloween loving self is so happy after reading this book, it was so cute! From the illustrations to the story itself, it is really engaging and I think all ages can enjoy it.

Ghost Says Meow!: A Halloween Story, written and illustrated by Lauren Kukla, is a playful and charming picture book perfect for the Halloween season. Recommended for children ages 4 to 8, the story brings together a cast of classic Halloween characters, each confidently delivering their signature sounds. That is, until Ghost decides to break the mold.

Rather than saying the expected “Boo,” Ghost surprises her friends by experimenting with unexpected sounds like “Meow,” “Ribbit,” and “Moo.” At first, the other characters push back, unsure how to respond to Ghost’s unconventional choices. But as the story unfolds, they come to appreciate her creativity and individuality, learning a valuable lesson about embracing differences and being open to new ideas.

The story is light-hearted and fun, with a deeper message about self-expression and acceptance woven seamlessly throughout. Kukla’s whimsical illustrations add charm and festive energy, perfectly capturing the playful spirit of Halloween while also making space for emotional warmth and growth.

I rated this book 3.5 out of 5 stars (rounded up). It’s a sweet seasonal read that encourages young readers to celebrate what makes them (and others) unique.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a fun twist on a typical Halloween story! I love the rhyming and wonderful illustrations.

This book is adorable! I read it with my 5 and 7 year old and they both loved it. My 7 year old also read it to me.

The artwork is great! The colours are wonderful and stand out and the little details on the ghost was fun for the kids to look for and point out.

I would definitely read other books by this author!

This adorable picture book is full of spooky fun and sweet surprises! With playful rhymes and charming illustrations, Ghost Says Meow! is a delightful read-aloud for little ones who love Halloween and silly sounds.

Perfect for giggles and bedtime, this not-so-scary story is sure to become a seasonal favorite!

This book went down a treat with my 2, 5 and 7 year old! We adore anything ghostly, so with the sweet illustrations and a story they could really engage with at different ages, we’ll definitely be buying the physical copy of this… the kids were cackling away, full belly laughs over their hot chocolates.

“You all sound great.
You really do! But
why not try out
something new?”

Oh gosh, this was absolutely adorable! The rhymes are super cute and well done, and the illustrations are just precious. I really appreciated the book’s message of being unafraid to be different and embracing being yourself even when others are telling you that it’s wrong to divert from the norm.

Definitely a fun, wholesome book for young kids!

I just read this book to my toddlers and they as well as me enjoyed it. We liked the illustrations and the moral of the story (more so, me). I think the message from it was sent in a cute wholesome way. I thought the story was clear and concise for children to understand.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223759784-ghost-says-meow" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Ghost Says Meow!: A Halloween Story" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1741249107l/223759784._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223759784-ghost-says-meow">Ghost Says Meow!: A Halloween Story</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15173741.Lauren_Kukla">Lauren Kukla</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7762746509">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I just read this book to my toddlers and they as well as me enjoyed it. We liked the illustrations and the moral of the story (more so, me). I think the message from it was sent in a cute wholesome way. I thought the story was clear and concise for children to understand.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/144878791-devany-irvin">View all my reviews</a>

Super cute Halloween story with a good message. Would make a great read-a-loud for toddler and pre-school aged storytime.

I have to add this to my list of books to buy for my son when it comes out. It is a really cute and simple story that shows that you do not have to be what people think you are supposed to be. The graphics are cute too!

A Ghost Says Meow! (ARC review)
By Lauren Kukla
Release date: 9-16-25

I'm so ready for Halloween and my children have been good sports allowing me to read some Halloween stories to them early this year! They enjoyed seeing the ghost dress up based on the different sounds they made! It was a cute story about being yourself, which is anything you want to be! Thank you @netgalley and @jollyfishpress for the opportunity to review this ARC!

This is a cute book about a little ghost who wants to be herself. Why should ghosts have to say boo? It's a good message for kids (or anyone) to be true to yourself despite what others say. The illustrations are well done and really added to the story.
The suggested age range for this is 4-8, but I think younger children might like the pictures or enjoy it being read to them. I think the price point is kind of high, but maybe I just don't buy kids books very often.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a free review. All opinions are my own.

Did I go out and put in an order for our library to purchase this tile right after reading it. Yes, yes I did. This book is perfect for a story time that I do biweekly, and I love doing my Halloween version. I love books like this where the character does something unexpected, and I love how the ghost challenges others to go outside their norm. I am so excited to read this book to young readers soon.
Thank you so much to North Star Editions and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

"Halloween is here, and fall leaves crackle. A witch crosses the moon and cackles."

Ghost Says Meow! is such a fun Halloween story to read to your children. We follow a little ghost who wants to say more than "Boo!" but her fellow halloween creatures friends don't want to. Cat, Witch, Owl tell Ghost shouldn't meow. Until Ghost convinces them it's okay to have a little change sometimes. They could try and say something else that they regular catchphrase or sound. It's okay to try something new, to be a bit different.

"You all sound great. You really do ! But why not try something new? Making sounds is so much fun. Why should we have to make just one?"

This is a funny read, with lots of play on words, and rhymes. It's a great tool to learn vocabulary and spent a good time during the fall season, waiting for Halloween to come.

#GhostSaysMeow #NetGalley
3,25/5

A delightful read for young readers! This story blends spooky and sweet in the best way—adorable, cozy, and just spooky enough for little ones. Perfect for Halloween and fall storytimes!