Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol, The Scary Library Shusher review

Some first graders need a literary push. Our first grader is like that. He likes to read in theory, but he wants to read those books that he knows and for the most part they’re picture books. Kids need to love to read and parents need to challenge kids to read things that they love without it exclusively being books about toilets, poopypants and practical jokes. The struggle is real. Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol, The Scary Library Shusher is the fifth book in this series by Andres Miedoso, with illustrations by Victor Rivas.

Our seven year old gamely sat on his bed while we started to read it to him. I told him that he would have to read seven words over each two pages and fields of protest immediately started on his emoji themed bed. After borrowing a Monster Truck from his bed to help me read the text we started and to our son’s surprise he could read seven words on the first alone! He was mildly happy, it is bed time after all, and I continued to read the story to him in between his unexpected success.

Desmond Cole likes ghosts and the town of Kersville knows it. His friend, Andres Miedoso isn’t so keen on ghosts and often questions his friend’s wisdom when it comes to talking, much less chasing them down. Unfortunately, Andres loves the library and the Kersville Library is spook center 101 in this book.

Even from the exterior the library looks haunted. There are spooky statues and the library lies at the end of a grove of a gauntlet of overgrown trees. As a library conniseur Andres knows great libraries and loves this one from his first step inside. It’s organized, large and has huge children’s section with organized graphic novels and all of his favorite authors. The two boys also meet Mrs. Shoosh, a younger than expected librarian who is most certainly not a ghost.

Here’s the thing about a 7 year-old who is reading Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol, The Scary Library Shusher…they want to be scared and they’re having fun while they’re part of the story. Our son thought he was going to be scared senseless as he pulled the covers up around his head as we read the book, but he wasn’t. Each chapter always culminated with a decision that allowed his first grade mind to wander and you could almost see the possibilities that he was dreaming up.

The text in the book is perfect for ages 5-9. It has large font so kids (and adults who wear glasses…) can read the book easily. Each chapter is approximately nine pages and that sounds like a lot for a young book like this; but consider that the book’s shape is small and most pages are at least half covered with illustrations.

A certain 7 year-old and I read the book over a three day period where we took our time. A shorter good night setting would make this book a two night story. Given that it’s a book filled with words that he can read and many that he needs to level up to it’s one that we’ll read a couple more times too.