Review by Booklist Review
In both plot and appropriately mixed-media illustrations, this is a busy book. Something's not quite right on the farm, and Farmer Gregg is so frightened that we can almost see his tonsils as he lets out a yell. Ghosts and monsters are everywhere, accompanied by ominous dark clouds and bright lightning bolts. Desperate, he calls for the Ghost Hunters three well-equipped little pigs and they appear to take care of the paranormal pests. As the story progresses, Dolan's illustrations become more chaotic, the large double-page spreads giving way to multipanel close-ups. The Ghost Hunters explore the farmhouse, the barn, and the garden, until they reach an underground fear factory! While the dialogue can get a bit wordy, children will be absorbed by the many details in the illustrations (what is a goldfish doing on the hunters' truck?). The final surprise is a delight, as is the slight bathroom humor that accompanies this perfect-for-Halloween tale. Pair with Doreen Cronin's Click, Clack, Moo (2000) for another story in which the farm animals run the show.--Ching, Edie Copyright 2016 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Dolan (Nuts in Space) brings her usual mix of funny dialogue and action-packed artwork to a barnyard mystery with echoes of Ghostbusters and Scooby-Doo. "Down on the farm something wasn't quite right," so Farmer Greg calls the only team that can help: the Three Pigs Ghost-Hunters. As the pigs investigate, their Phantom Finder 5000 can't detect any supernatural activity, despite ample evidence to the contrary. The pond is overrun with zombie ducks ("Quack! Quack! Brains!"), bovine ghosts haunt the farmhouse with eerie cries of "Mooooo," and Frankenhorse and Donkula are threatening the barn. As in her previous books, Dolan marries text and illustration to very funny effect, with an abundance of visual jokes, speech-balloon commentary, and details that advance both the story and the hilarity ("I ain't afraid of no goat," quips one of the investigators as the pigs head into the "incredibly creepy chicken coop" that might hold the key to the mystery). The large cast, clues tucked into the background, and feisty banter should easily hold up to multiple readings. Ages 4-8. Agent: Frances McKay, Frances McKay Illustration. (June) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Something is terribly wrong on Farmer Greg's farm, and he is really spooked. He calls the Ghost-Hunters to visit the farm and take a look around. When they arrive, the scene is like nothing they have seen before. There are dozens of zombie ducks, ghosts, bats, and more. However, nothing is registering on the Ghost-Hunters' paranormal activity meter. Why could this be? Just as the Ghost-Hunters think they have gotten to the bottom of the story, something shocking happens to Farmer Greg that changes the way the farm runs forever. There is a lot for readers to see and absorb. More suited as an independent read, this picture book contains speech bubbles and detail galore for kids to explore. Sitting down with this volume will be an exciting and entertaining reading experience. It's not a title to breeze through, but readers will remain engaged from start to finish. The mixed-media cartoon illustrations are colorful and fill the page. The text and pictures complement each other nicely, and the speech bubbles give important clues as to what is really going on. While the pictures make this look like a Halloween title, this selection can be enjoyed year-round. VERDICT A not so spooky adventure with a surprising twist, perfect for one-on-one sharing.-Amy Shepherd, St. Anne's Episcopal School, Middleton, DE © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Upon returning from a sleepwalking episode, Greg finds his farm overrun by zombie ducks, ghost cows, and other terrors. Whos he gonna call? Three Pigs Ghost-Hunters! This trio eventually uncovers what fearless readers may have deduced from Dolans cheerfully chaotic mixed-media illustrations: the spooks are really farm animals in disguise. Its an elaborate plot directed by Mother Hen from an underground command center/fear factory and designed to scare off a beast that came last night when the moon was full and Greg was gone! The art is packed with speech balloons, slapstick humor, and visual cues advancing the goofy story. Elementary-age readers will howl at the silly twists, turns, and transformations. kitty flynn (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Dolan takes her zany, anthropomorphic animals to new heights of silliness in this Halloween tale.After a night of sleepwalking, Farmer Greg returns to find his farm now inhabited by beasts and ghouls. Who you gonna call? Ghost-Hunters, of course. The three pigs, in a remarkably familiar-looking vehicle, arrive in no time with their Phantom Finder 5000 to root out the paranormal. But they dont find anything paranormal. Not at the pond, where zombie ducks wander with bloodshot eyes: Quack! Brains! Not in the farmhouse, where ghostly cows roam. And not in the barn, covered in green slime, where He lives! Frankenhorse lives! and the Mighty Donkula presides over the vampire bats, who vant to suck your blood. The vegetable patch similarly registers zero on the instruments. A visit to the chicken coop reveals both the diabolical plot and the reason behind it, and readers are sure to be taken by surprisethey wont see this twist coming. While this is definitely a childrens book, Dolan adds some masterful one-liners for adult readers benefit that are sure to cause chuckles (one Ghost-Hunter says, I aint afraid of no goat!). Dolans mixed-media illustrations balance the creepy with the silly and are filled with hysterical details, visual puns, and speech bubbles, so readers are sure to find new things on repeat readings. This is one haunted farm readers wont want to skip. (Picture book. 5-10) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
