Georgie,

Grownups will shiver with delight when they recognize this old favorite. Georgie the mild-mannered little ghost has been around for over half a century, his gentle ways happily haunting generations of children. Georgie is quite content with his quiet routine in the home of the Whittakers. Every evening he creaks a loose board on the stairs and squeaks the parlor door. This is the cue for Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker to go to bed, Herman the cat to start to prowl, and Miss Oliver the owl to wake up and hoot. But one day when Mr. Whittaker gets a notion in his head to nail down the creaky step and oil the squeaky door, suddenly everything changes. Poor Georgie can no longer perform his ghostly duties, and must leave home to find a new haunt. But will he find happiness? Robert Bright's deep-blue ink drawings provide a spooky tone that pleasantly belies Georgie's friendly nature. We're delighted to see this well-loved classic of the pleasures of home sweet home back in print. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter