The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs tells a charming story of a ghost who loves being alone in the attic until a brave little girl visits and isn’t scared, no matter how hard he tries to frighten her. Over time, their repeated visits teach the ghost about the value of friendship, and he discovers that sharing time with others can bring unexpected joy. I adore the illustrations! The ghost with legs is delightful, and the muted colour palette is calming. This book would make a perfect Halloween read-aloud and conveys a gentle, heartwarming message about courage, friendship, and connection.

I loved the art style, it was eerie yet cozy. I loved this story of a grumpy ghost who figures out that he really just needs a friend.

I really enjoyed this book it was adorable. I love the message it conveys. We are all afraid of change but often times it turns out to be a good thing. It reminds us to try new things with an open mind. I will definitely be recommending it to my fellow educators.

This is a really sweet book! My 5 year old and I read it together. The pictures are beautiful and the story is sweet with a nice message. Also who doesn’t love a not so scary grumpy ghost?

I think this one may have been a little better for under five, but she still enjoyed it. A perfect October eve before bed read. Thank you Mamiko Shiotani & Publisher Spotlight via NetGalley for the eARC.

A very cute story about a ghost who thinks he wants to be alone, but decides a little company isn’t so bad after all. This story was very cute, as were the illustrations. This book would be great for any child ages 2 and up, especially around Halloween time! I would definitely read this book with my own kids, and I would recommend to others as well!

Such an adorable book with an amazing lesson. Get out of your comfort zone and see what wonders await you!

Aww, this book is so cute. It reminds me of the Monsters, Inc. movie. A solitary ghost just wants to hang out by himself and do ghost things, but he ends up making a new friend. I feel like this would be a great book to teach young kids that you can treasure your alone time and also enjoy friendships (and personally as an introvert who needs my space but also sometimes gets a little lonely, I feel this). There's also maybe a mild lesson here about stereotypes -- the ghost assuming the girl will be afraid of him, but she takes it in stride, completely unfazed.

I loved the illustrations and feel that the muted, dark colors and grainy texture perfectly reflect and enhance the somber, quiet mood of the book. The 2-page spread showing the ghost frame-by-frame thinking hard and sinking down into himself made me chuckle. Little details in the illustrations were cute, too (e.g., the ghost being transparent). The ghost is depicted as such a cute form that I don't think this book would be scary at all for very young kids.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

A fun, not-too-spooky ghost story great for fans of There’s a Ghost in This House. Gorgeous black and white illustrations provide the perfect touch to add to the slightly spooky but really just grumpy ghost. The story encourages the character to try something new that might be out of your comfort zone, and good things may come out of it! Great for the Pre-K - 2nd grade crowd.

Spooky cute book about a ghost who wants nothing else but to be left alone, only to discover having a friend isn't as bad as it seems. The illustrations are beautiful and I love how some of the writing is displayed. Love it! Thanks NetGalley.

Mamiko Shiotani has outdone herself with her largely gray illustrations in her debut The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs. The dark depictions of the ghost’s rejoicing in his isolated existence until a brave little girl begins spending every day in the ghost’s dusty attic. I won’t ruin the ending, but children and their grownups alike will enjoy what happens to these two little souls.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Publisher Spotlight and Floris Books in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Floris Books, and Mamiko Shiotani Translated by Polly Lawson for the early access copy of The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs.

The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs is a story of a ghost who enjoys time to themselves in their attic. When a visitor comes to the attic, the ghost must figure a way to stop them.

A story of building friendship. It will be a good tool for schools to use on how to build new connections.

I love this book! Ghosts are supposed to be scary, right? But little girls? Even Scarier. Or thought our grumpy ghost until he confronted his fears and made friends with the little girl. "The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs" is a quick but adorably spooky story of a ghost making friends with a little girl.

We finally got this title in the store and I'm so excited to share it with families. It's spooky and dark with creaky doos, and "boos", and ghosts in the attic but ultimately a heartwarming tale of unlikely friendships.


Thank you to the author Mamiko Shiotani (translator Polly Lawson, Flores books, and NetGalley for bringing this title to us!

This book is precious! I love a little ghost story, and I love a story with heart. The illustrations were so cute, and I loved his little legs.