Best Picture Books About Ghosts (2026): 5 Compared

The best picture books about ghosts are the friendly kind: an 80-page search for a ghost in the house, a shy ghost celebrating friendship, and a guide to making friends with one. We compared five picture books about ghosts by pages, publisher, age and release date, using only what each listing publishes.

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More picks to compare

• Ghosts in the House!32 pages, 2010Check on Amazon
• Aggie and the Ghost64 pages, 2025Check on Amazon
• Illustrated Ghost Stories1855, UsborneCheck on Amazon
• Ghost Afraid of Everything40 pages, 2024Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

The picks: best picture books about ghosts

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	There's a Ghost In This House	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Gustavo, the Shy Ghost	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	How to Make Friends with a Ghost	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	World of the Unknown: Ghosts	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Gilbert the Ghost	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

There's a Ghost In This House

Oliver Jeffers·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Oliver Jeffers' There's a Ghost In This House, 80 pages, November 2, 2021, Philomel Books, 3-7 years, Preschool to 3.

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Pros

• 80 pages stated
• 2021 release stated
• Philomel Books stated

Cons

• 80 pages suits older kids
• No stated edition
• 2021 is recent

2

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost

Flavia Z. Drago·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Flavia Z. Drago's Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, 40 pages, July 14, 2020, 2-6 years, Preschool to 2, 2020 Edition, Book 1 of 3.

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Pros

• 40 pages stated
• 2020 Edition stated
• Book 1 of 3 stated

Cons

• 40 pages is mid-length
• No stated publisher
• 2020 is older

3

How to Make Friends with a Ghost

Rebecca Green·9.7/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Rebecca Green's How to Make Friends with a Ghost, 48 pages, September 5, 2017, Tundra Books, 3-8 years, Preschool to 3.

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Pros

• 48 pages stated
• 2017 release stated
• Tundra Books stated

Cons

• 48 pages is mid-length
• 2017 is older
• No stated edition

4

World of the Unknown: Ghosts

Various·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

World of the Unknown: Ghosts, 32 pages, October 3, 2019, Usborne Publishing Ltd, 2019 Edition.

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Pros

• 32 pages stated
• 2019 Edition stated
• Usborne stated

Cons

• 32 pages is short
• No stated reading age
• 2019 is older

5

Gilbert the Ghost

Guido Van Genechten·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Guido Van Genechten's Gilbert the Ghost, 24 pages, August 31, 2021, Clavis Publishing, 2-4 years.

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Pros

• 24 pages stated
• 2021 release stated
• Clavis stated

Cons

• 24 pages is the fewest
• No stated edition
• 2021 is recent

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How we scored them

The Read Score weighs the pages, the publisher, the age and the release date. There’s a Ghost In This House states 80 pages and a 2021 release; Gustavo states 40 pages and a 2020 Edition. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

Setup Notes

• There’s a Ghost In This House: 80 pages, November 2, 2021.
• Gustavo, the Shy Ghost: 40 pages, July 14, 2020.
• How to Make Friends with a Ghost: 48 pages, September 5, 2017.
• World of the Unknown: Ghosts: 32 pages, October 3, 2019.
• Gilbert the Ghost: 24 pages, August 31, 2021.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is longest?

There’s a Ghost In This House: 80 pages.

Which is about friendship?

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost: 40 pages, Book 1 of 3.

Which is a fact book?

World of the Unknown: Ghosts: 32 pages, Usborne.

Which suits toddlers?

Gilbert the Ghost: 24 pages, ages 2-4.

Do all five state reading ages?

Four of the five state a reading age or grade level in this roundup’s data.

Still deciding? Our top pickThere's a Ghost In This House

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