Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Poor Gustavoeveryone looks right through him.Whether he shows up as a paint canvas or a soccer ball, no one seems to notice. Of course, it doesnt help that hes timidor a ghost. He literally blends into the background. He cant even get up the courage to buy an eye-scream, much less approach his crush. Whats 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 ghosts perpetual perturbation. His true love, Alma, is a bespectacled invisible girlappropriately 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 Gustavos 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) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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) Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Horn Book
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Ghost Gustavo is terribly shy, a problem compounded by the fact that the other monster kids can't see him. His attempts to appear/appeal to the others -- disguising himself as a lampshade, a surfboard, a sheet -- are funny but hopeless; it's only when he throws a Day of the Dead party at the cemetery and reveals his passion for the violin that the other monsters come to see him as he really is. While the logic of the story won't stand up to much scrutiny, Gustavo is a sympathetic protagonist, and the illustrations are filled with appealing monsters and witty details. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.