Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World!

Kochalka, J. (2008). Johnny Boo:
the best little ghost in the world.
Marietta: Top Shelf.

Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World
By James Kochalka 

Published by Top Shelf Productions

Marietta, GA 

2008

40 pages

Johnny Boo is a ghost, and, as the title suggests, he's the best little ghost in the world. He has Boo Power, which means he can "Boo!" really loudly. His pet ghost named Squiggle has Squiggle Power, which means he can fly quickly and do loop-de-loops. After playing hide-and-seek, Johnny Boo and Squiggle are ready for some ice cream... but they run into an ice cream monster! Johnny Boo and Squiggle use their powers to defeat the ice cream monster, but soon discover that he is friendly. They share their ice cream and the ice cream monster can't stop burping! Can Johnny Boo scare the burps away? Purchase the book here. 

Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World is an adorable graphic novel for young readers. When reading this book to your students or children, make sure they can always see the pictures. As a graphic novel, the pictures are key to experiencing and enjoying the story. The panels and pictures are large and bold, making it easy for even inexperienced graphic novel/comic book readers to follow along. The book is fun for all ages, and can be enjoyed by children as young as three years old.

At first, I may not have labeled this book "fantasy". However, after much internet exploration, I have come to the conclusion that this wonderful story can, in fact, be considered fantasy. 

Here are some common core standards Johnny Boo: The Best Little Ghost in the World aligns with: 

(retrieved from http://diamondbookdistributors.com/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=53&s=1256&ai=155746) 

Kindergarten

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.1: With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy RL.K.3: With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.K.4: Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy RL.K.5: Recognize common types of texts (e.g., storybooks, poems).

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy RL.K.7: With prompting and support, describe the relationship between illustrations and the story in which they appear 

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy RL.K.9: With prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy RL.K.10: Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding.

First Grade

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.1 Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.5 Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information, drawing on a wide reading of a range of text types.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.6 Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.9 Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.

Second Grade

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.1 Ask and answer such questions as who, what, where, when, why, and how to demonstrate understanding of key details in a text.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.2 Recount stories, including fables and folktales from diverse cultures, and determine their central message, lesson, or moral.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.3 Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

•   CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.5 Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.

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