ALA Booklist (Fri May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

The second book in the Dirk Bones (I Can Read) series follows skeleton Dirk, a reporter/detective dressed in a belted trench coat and fedora, as he follows the trail of a missing manuscript. When he discovers that all of Edgar Bleek's books have disappeared from the public library, he soon tracks down the culprit: an enormous Creeups Crawler Talkus vine. Though children may wonder how an apparently eyeless plant grew to be such a voracious reader, they will probably enjoy the simply written story and brightly colored ink-and-wash illustrations.

Horn Book (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

The town of Ghostly is home to a variety of friendly supernatural citizens, including skeleton investigator Dirk Bones. After books start disappearing from the library, Dirk discovers that Lenore, a giant talking vine, has "borrowed" them to read to her children. The solution? Get Lenore a library card. Cushman's tale, an unabashed plug for reading, is entertaining light fare for beginning readers.

Kirkus Reviews

In this follow-up to Dirk Bones and the Mystery of the Haunted House (2006), the skeleton reporter/detective is on the trail of a missing book by Frankenstein monsteresque writer Edgar Bleek. While searching for clues, Dirk finds a blue, polka-dot leaf; he finds another in the library, only to have Miss Elsa the librarian tell him that Bleek's books are also missing from her collection. Dirk's next stop is the bookstore, but when he crosses the Green Lagoon to get there, a swamp monster named Darlene confirms that she has seen the strange leaves before; she then leaps into the water when their owner, a creature reminiscent of the carnivorous plant from Little Shop of Horrors , appears. Instead of longing for blood, Lenore, the Creepus Crawler Talkus vine, longs to read to her babies—aptly called "budding readers." Dirk's solution of a library card saves the day while also sending a message to beginning readers about the importance of libraries. Although informed by horror movies, the illustrations play down potential scariness in favor of humor, making this monster mystery a satisfying, accessible title for new readers. (Early reader. 5-7)

School Library Journal (Fri May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

K-Gr 2 Dirk Bones, skeletal investigative reporter for The Ghostly Tombs , is interviewing author Edgar Bleek (a blue-skinned Frankenstein look-alike) when it is discovered that the only copy of his unreleased new book is missing. Bones and Bleek search everywhere but turn up only an unusual spotted leaf. Bones hurries to the Ghostly Library to research the origin of the leaf. He learns from the librarian that more Bleek books are missing, and he recovers a second spotted leaf from the scene. Sure that he has a valuable clue, the reporter hastens through the Green Lagoon toward the bookstoreand the source of the suspicious spotted leaves. Dirk Bones and the other ghastly inhabitants of Ghostly are fresh and attractive characters who will appeal to youngsters who enjoy slightly "spooky" books. Little touches, like the spiders reading in the library and the gleaming eyes along the shelves, will not go unappreciated. The book's design has the comfort of beginning readers in mind, and the simple sentences and dialogue are clear and well supported. This is an all-around fun read with much of the suspense of a mystery, but with a more satisfying ending than many such books. Neala Arnold, St. Francis Elementary School, MN