I knew I was going to like this the moment I saw the cover, and happily, that same wonderful art carries all the way through the book. It’s a visual treat from start to finish.

What really charmed me, though, was the relationship between the grandkids and their grandfather. Watching it develop—especially given how genuinely frightened he is of them at the beginning—was both funny and sweet in the best way.

This isn’t scary, not really. It has more of that playful, spooky-adjacent vibe you get from The Addams Family or The Munsters—where you know these characters are supposed to be a little “off,” maybe even the “baddies,” but it’s all wrapped in humor and warmth instead of fear.

It’s a charming, slightly quirky story that stands out just enough from your typical children’s book to feel special.

Five stars for the charm, the heart, and that delightfully eerie-but-cozy atmosphere.