Gustavo, the Shy Ghost

by Flavia Z. Drago, Flavia Z. Drago (Illustrator)

Overview

This winning debut picture book from Mexican artist Flavia Z. Drago about finding the courage to make friends is perfect for the spooky season — or anytime.

Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through walls, making objects fly, and glowing in the dark. And he loves almost nothing more than playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo is shy, and some things are harder for him to do, like getting in a line to buy eye scream or making friends with other monsters. Whenever he tries getting close to them, he realizes they just can’t see him. Now that the Day of the Dead is fast approaching, what can he do to make them notice him and to share with them something he loves? With fancifully detailed artwork and visual humor, debut picture-book creator Flavia Z. Drago’s vivid illustrations tell a sweet and gently offbeat story of loneliness, bravery, and friendship that is sure to be a treat for little ghouls and goblins everywhere.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536216936
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	07/14/2020
Series:	The World of Gustavo
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Sales rank:	514,548
File size:	24 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Flavia Z. Drago was born and raised in Mexico City. As a child, she wanted to be a mermaid. When that didn’t happen, she began her career as a graphic designer and a children’s book illustrator. She loves color, textures, and shapes and enjoys creating them with different materials and a bit of digital sorcery. She lives in Mexico.

Editorial Reviews

08/17/2020

Mexican artist Drago’s picture book debut offers a gentle friendship tale and folk-art-style, textural mixed-media pictures. Gustavo, an ingenuous sheeted ghost who loves playing the violin, is so excruciatingly shy that “making friends was terrifying. Gustavo had never dared to speak to any of the other monsters.” He attempts to get close to them by hiding in plain sight, which makes for some quirky images (his visage appears on a balloon, a soccer ball, and a lampshade, among other objects), but the other kids “just couldn’t see him.” Gustavo bravely invites his peers to a cemetery violin concert on the Day of the Dead, and when “not a soul had come” he plays his music anyway. The kids, of course, eventually appear, apologizing for their tardiness, complimenting Gustavo’s performance, and asking him to “hang out” with them, precipitating a pat yet sweet ending. Ages 3–7. (July)

Publishers Weekly

This is a debut novel from Drago, a Mexican author and illustrator, and she deftly weaves in cultural references. The illustrations are bright and detailed. Gentle storytelling and vibrant mixed-media illustrations make for an enjoyable seasonal story.
—School Library Journal (starred review)

Mexican-born author/illustrator Drago sweetly captures the angst-y little ghost’s perpetual perturbation...Iconic images of Mexican culture cleverly pepper the scenery. With the papel picado banners, panes de muerto, and Catrinas, Drago provides a festive environment for Gustavo’s laments. Decorated skulls peek out from around every corner; even the family goldfish is a smiling skeleton. This ghostly tale proves that anyone can have a happily-ever-after.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Born and raised in Mexico City, Drago fills her sweet ghost story with vibrant colors, textures, and authentic details from Mexican culture. Her illustrations burst with whimsical flourishes and clever details that youngsters will want to pore over repeatedly. While ideal for Day of the Dead, this heartwarming story about bravely taking the first step toward friendship is wonderful for little listeners year-round.
—Booklist

Gustavo is a sympathetic protagonist, and the illustrations are filled with appealing monsters and witty details.
—The Horn Book

Mexican artist Drago’s picture book debut offers a gentle friendship tale and folk-art-style, textural mixed-media pictures.
—Publishers Weekly

With rosy cheeks and wide eyes, Gustavo’s an easy little spirit to root for, and the book is particularly refreshing in its acceptance of Gustavo’s continued introversion even after making friends...Grainy, crayon-like textures pair with sturdy scribbles to give the mixed media art a joyful sense of movement, and the illustrations provide entertaining details of Day of the Dead traditions and the “monstrous” cast. This is an easy pick for some cheerful fall fun or in anticipation of a Day of the Dead celebration.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

★ 06/01/2020

K-Gr 2—A cute ghost named Gustavo learns to overcome social anxiety in this sweet tale. Gustavo really wants to have friends, but no matter what he does, his shyness makes him invisible to the other monsters. To counter his inability to be recognized, Gustavo invites a group of monsters to watch him perform a violin concert on the Day of the Dead. Gustavo does what he loves most and finally, he can be seen by others. Ultimately, his life is changed because he shows his true self to the world. A side story involving Gustavo's love for "the prettiest monster" remains unexplored. This is a debut novel from Drago, a Mexican author and illustrator, and she deftly weaves in cultural references. The illustrations are bright and detailed. VERDICT Gentle storytelling and vibrant mixed-media illustrations make for an enjoyable seasonal story.—Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter Sch., Providence

School Library Journal

★ 2020-07-14
Poor Gustavo—everyone looks right through him.

Whether he shows up as a paint canvas or a soccer ball, no one seems to notice. Of course, it doesn’t help that he’s timid—or a ghost. He literally blends into the background. He can’t even get up the courage to buy an “eye-scream,” much less approach his crush. What’s a shy, violin-playing ghost in love supposed to do? Finally tired of feeling left out, Gustavo decides to invite all the monsters to a violin concert at the annual Day of the Dead party in the cemetery. Surrounded by decorated altars, Gustavo sadly realizes that no one is coming. He picks up his instrument anyway and lets the music carry him away. As he plays, he begins glowing brightly with happiness and confidence, eventually noticing that the graveyard is filled with all his invited guests from the neighborhood, who can see him for the first time. Mexican-born author/illustrator Drago sweetly captures the angst-y little ghost’s perpetual perturbation. His true love, Alma, is a bespectacled invisible girl—appropriately named, as “Alma” means soul or spirit in Spanish. Iconic images of Mexican culture cleverly pepper the scenery. With the papel picado banners, panes de muerto, and Catrinas, Drago provides a festive environment for Gustavo’s laments. Decorated skulls peek out from around every corner; even the family goldfish is a smiling skeleton.

This ghostly tale proves that anyone can have a happily-ever-after. (Picture book. 4-9)

Kirkus Reviews