ALA Booklist (Fri Jun 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Ghoulia lives in Crumbling Manor with her aunt Departed and beloved albino greyhound, Tragedy. Like any kid, she wants a friend to play with, but, frustratingly, Aunt Departed has forbidden her from mingling with the village's children, simply because Ghoulia is a zombie. When she hears rumors of a costume-centric holiday called Halloween, she is convinced this is her chance to blend in with the other kids. On the preordained night, she and Tragedy slip away and join a group of trick-or-treaters, who welcome her (and admire her "costume"), to her extreme delight. While Ghoulia's outing doesn't go off without a hitch, its resolution is highly satisfying, if slightly predictable. Cantini's new series is awash in shadowy mixed-media illustrations that will snag the attention of young Tim Burton fans. Charmingly morbid, the artwork is full of details and funny, handwritten labels that will keep beginning readers focused on the page. Youngsters will connect with Ghoulia's warm personality and the relatable challenge of making friends. This series starter is definitely a treat.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

In this Italian import, first in a series, Ghoulia is a zombie who must hide indoors with her eccentric family of ghouls and ghosts and her bug-eyed albino greyhound named Tragedy. She desperately wants some friends and sees her chance on Halloween. The heavily illustrated and colorful story is enticing to new and reluctant readers and playfully confronts the nervousness of meeting new people. Activities and games are appended.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Ghoulia wants to blend in with other kids, but her appearance (greenish-gray skin, Ping-Pong ball eyes) and special talents (she can yank off and reattach her body parts at will) give her away-she-s -a perfectly normal zombie girl.- Living in Crumbling Manor at the edge of town, Ghoulia and her Auntie Departed fear discovery and subsequent banishment, so Ghoulia spends her time with her beloved albino greyhound, Tragedy. Still, she longs for friendship with other children, and when she learns about trick-or-treating, she sees her chance to mingle undetected. In a happy resolution, Ghoulia-s identity comes out (she can-t resist removing her head in front of the other kids), and her new friends accept and celebrate her unique qualities. Cantini-s detailed grayscale drawings ramp up the comedy on every page with labels and asides, including a page from Ghoulia-s Halloween-prep journal. This well-paced series opener will work well as both a read-aloud and a humorous choice for newly independent readers. Ages 6-8. (Aug.)