Horn Book (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2003)

When Skeleton has a persistent case of the hiccups, Ghost offers suggestions with comically gruesome but ineffective results (when Skeleton drinks water upside-down, it pours out his cavernous eyes). Each phrase of the terse, rhythmic narrative is punctuated with a "hic, hic, hic" that's sure to have kids joining in. Schindler augments the simple idea with funny details on each handsome, boldly designed page.

Kirkus Reviews

Who hasn't shared the aggravation of a whole day's worth of bone-rattling hiccups? Poor Skeleton wakes up with a deadly case that he can't shake, and it's up to his friend Ghost to think of something to scare them away. Cuyler ( Stop, Drop, and Roll , 2001, etc.) cleverly brings readers through the ups and downs of Skeleton's day, from shower to ball-playing. Home folk remedies (holding his breath, eating sugar) don't seem to work, but Ghost applies a new perspective startling enough to unhinge listeners and Skeleton alike. While the concept is clever, it's Schindler's ( How Santa Lost His Job , 2001, etc.) paintings, done with gouache, ink, and watercolor, that carry the day, showing Skeleton's own unique problems—water pours out of his hollow eyes when he drinks it upside down, his teeth spin out of his head when he brushes them—that make a joke of the circumstances. Oversized spreads open the scene to read-aloud audiences, but hold intimate details for sharp eyes—monster slippers, sugar streaming through the hollow body. For all the hiccupping, this outing has a quiet feel not up to the standards of some of Cuyler's earlier books, but the right audience will enjoy its fun. (Picture book. 4-6)

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

Skeleton's persistent hiccups prevent him from polishing his bones (his arm jerks loose), carving a pumpkin, raking leaves, etc. "Drink some water upside down," advises Ghost, but the liquid pours out Skeleton's eye sockets. Relief finally comes when Ghost pulls out a mirror and Skeleton scares himself. Cuyler (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">The Biggest, Best Snowman) punctuates each sentence with a "hic, hic, hic," while Schindler (<EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">Big Pumpkin) limns woebegone Skeleton in pale blue-white on elegantly mottled burgundies and evergreens. The illustrations may be spare, but most contain a sly detail or two (check out Skeleton's bat slippers). The commonplace condition and unlikely victim make for offbeat—hic—comedy. Ages 3-6. <EMPHASIS TYPE=""ITALIC"">(Sept.)

School Library Journal

PreS-K-This simple story begs to be read aloud. With a recurring "hic, hic, hic," Skeleton attempts the day's business: he gets up, takes a shower, polishes his bones, carves a pumpkin, rakes the leaves, and plays ball with Ghost. When the traditional remedies don't work, Ghost makes a face and shouts "Boo!" at his friend, but to no avail. Finally, clever Ghost confronts Skeleton with a mirror, frightening the hiccups right out of him and sending them "hic, hic, hic"-ing over the hills. With hilarious illustrations that fill the pages, this book will be a treat for children who can laugh at the slightly macabre. Not all youngsters will be comfortable when Skeleton brushes his teeth and hiccups at the same time, jettisoning his lower jaw across the page, or when the sugar falls through his bones and water pours through his empty eye sockets as he attempts to rid himself of the bone-jarring nuisance. However, Schindler's gouache, watercolor, and ink pictures make the most out of each situation, instilling humor in every scene.-Piper L. Nyman, Fairfield/Suisun Community Library, Fairfield, CA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.