Johnny Boo; The Best Little Ghost in the World by James Kochalka

Johnny Boo is the story a young ghost and his friend, Squiggle.  Johnny Boo and Squiggle play together, sharing the occasional disagreements, as all friends do.  Together, the meet the dreaded Ice Cream Monster, who ends up not being as scary as they imagined.  This silly little tale with delight young readers.

This graphic novel, the first in its series, written by James Kochalka, reads much like a traditional comic book.  Reluctant readers will enjoy the goofy humor and extensive use of onomatopoeia. The text is not very complex and could be read by a first or second grader.  Because of the simplicity and its high-interest appeal, this story would be an excellent text for practicing fluent reading.  Fluent reading is essential for ensuring students comprehend the text.  Pick up a copy for your classroom library and your students will thank you!

There not any words that need explicit vocabulary instruction.

Close Reading Questions:
Do you think that Johnny Boo and Squiggle play together very often?  How can you tell? p. 8
Why was the ice cream melted? p. 21