School Spirits

By Charlotte Gunnufson
Illustrated by Rebecca Crane
LIST PRICE $19.99

About The Book

This playful, gently spooky picture book about back-to-school jitters features a mischievous group of ghosts and is “[p]articularly fun to read aloud” (School Library Journal, starred review) and perfect for fans of Gustavo the Shy Ghost and Little Ghost Makes a Friend.

It’s time to go back to school, but…

What if classes are too tough
with loads of tests and tricky stuff?
The question troubling you the most . . .
What if—yikes!—your school’s got ghosts?

What’s a kid to do when a mischievous crew of ghosts starts hoarding hula hoops and levitating lunches? Be brave! And work with classmates to help the playful spirits understand how school works. As students model manners, they’ll see these spooky newcomers might be just the thing to liven up the learning day. After all, every school needs a little spirit!

About The Author

Photograph (c) Alisabeth Von Presley
Charlotte Gunnufson

Charlotte Gunnufson went to an ordinary school that was not haunted. (She’s pretty sure about that.) Now she puts ghosts in some of her stories. Her first book, Halloween Hustle, has one ghost. School Spirits has oodles of ghosts! Dream Submarine, Hard Hat Hank and the Sky-High Solution, and Eight-Nine-Tengineers have no ghosts. They’re just ordinary b o o o o o o oks. (Right?) Her website, BooksbyCharlotte.com, isn’t haunted either.

About The Illustrator

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Rebecca Crane

Rebecca Crane is an author, illustrator, and visual development artist specializing in dynamic character designs for books and animation. Over the years, she has illustrated a number of popular stories enjoyed by readers around the world, and she spends her spare time traveling and seeking out new inspiration in coffee shops. Visit her at RebeccaCraneIllustration.com.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (July 14, 2026)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781665964517
  • Grades: P - 3
  • Ages: 4 - 8

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Raves and Reviews

"Particularly fun to read aloud, this spooky tale encourages friendship and problem-solving within the paranormal context of a haunted school." 

– School Library Journal, starred review

"[A] spirited spin on facing first-day fears. . . . Channeling nervous energy into positive vibes, this [book] offers a jolly relational game plan for tackling new-school-year jitters."

– Publishers Weekly

Resources and Downloads

A Guide to Using Books About Feelings and Emotions (pdf)

Activity Sheets

School Spirits Activities (pdf)

High Resolution Images

School Spirits

By Charlotte Gunnufson
Illustrated by Rebecca Crane
LIST PRICE $19.99
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