The judges call her book ‘a visual treat’ and admire the way it’s full of detail but never cluttered. Gustavo, the Shy Ghost Yes, it was a sweet little book. I tend not to like the "shy" label, and felt it rather unnecessary that Gustavo is "in love" with Alma the monster (they are both the equivalent of children and I'm just personally not a fan of that sort of thing for elementary age kids). I also think it was a bit idealized, that Gustavo goes from being too shy to really show himself to any of the children to suddenly planning a big party and inviting everyone (and, of course, everyone comes and everyone likes Gustavo--which is also idealized). But, it's a sweet book... the message overall is a good one: if you truly show yourself to people, rather than hiding from them, you'll find that they like you the way you are*. And I liked that Gustavo doesn't have a complete personality change, he is still a bit more reserved but finds ways to interact with his new friends. Great illustrations, though may not be suitable for sensitive youngsters. Meet Gustavo, he is a very spooky ghost with a lot of ghostly talents, but he has one big problem… he is very very very shy. In this book we see that he does try, but little dude, they are just not going to see you if you aren’t yourself (being a balloon or a lamp is just not something that stands out). I was cheering for him to step up, to be brave, to do something, because it seems that he has some very interesting classmates that may just be the friends he wants. I was so delighted to see him devise a plan that would make him stand out. I won’t tell you what his plan is, but I can tell you this, it was a great plan. It combines something he loves with something he is good at. I have to say when the plan was set in motion that I was a bit saddened… this couldn’t be how it ended, right?? And thankfully it didn’t and instead I just had a big grin on my face. You might be expecting a children’s book featuring ghosts and monsters to be scary, but it certainly isn’t. Gustavo is exceptionally cute. He loves being helpful, he’s kind, and he adores playing the violin. The monsters in the book do normal things like playing together, eating ‘ice-scream’, and walking their pets.

Flavia: This is exactly what happened! at some point during the process, I decided that Gustavo was going to be a ghost, which made me very happy because that meant that he could shapeshift into objects, something that could be visually playful; but also, it meant that I could create a world where Mexican calacas (skeletons) and monsters could happily live together, which meant that I could introduce children to Mexican, and horror cinema culture at the same time!

Key Features

I love the cheerfully spooky illustrations with their soft but vibrant colours and wonderful details. Every time I reread, I find myself noticing some new detail in the beautiful drawings that I didn’t see before! I also love the little bits of visual humour in the art. I especially love how Mexican culture, especially the Day of the Dead and its festivities, shine through the illustrations. The little monsters are all so adorable and unique! Although Gustavo is simply drawn, there’s just something so adorable about him with his cute smile and rosy cheeks. Flavia: Learning how to use colour has been a slow process, I remember that on my first illustrations I tended to use all the colours of the rainbow and all the textures at the same time – what a nightmare! As I slowly learned, I realised that you can do wonders with a limited palette because it gives coherence to the illustrations, creates atmospheres, catches the eye, and also, colour conveys meaning, so it’s one of the most valuable tools to master. Amé las ilustraciones, no solo los dibujos sino también los patrones, las texturas y las referencias mexicanas. ¡Ojalá pronto pueda leer más sobre Gustavo! Gustavo is a sympathetic protagonist, and the illustrations are filled with appealing monsters and witty details. Some of the things that happened to Gustavo were based on some of my own experiences. When I was in kindergarten – just like Gustavo – I sat by myself during lunch breaks, watching children play while being amazed by the fact that they seemed to be completely happy to talk and play with each other. I also remember being very nervous about having to ask for stuff in a shop, or raise my hand in class, or phoning, but even if I have gotten better, big parties still make me nervous.

This winning debut picture book from Mexican artist Flavia Z. Drago about finding the courage to make friends is perfect for the spooky season — or anytime. Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through walls, making objects fly, and glowing in the dark. And he loves almost nothing more than playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo is shy, and some things are harder for him to do, like getting in a line to buy eye scream or making friends with other monsters. Whenever he tries getting close to them, he realizes they just can't see him. Now that the Day of the Dead is fast approaching, what can he do to make them notice him and to share with them something he loves? With fancifully detailed artwork and visual humor, debut picture-book creator Flavia Z. Drago's vivid illustrations tell a sweet and gently offbeat story of loneliness, bravery, and friendship that is sure to be a treat for little ghouls and goblins everywhere.In Gustavo the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago, a shy ghost struggles with finding the courage to make friends. But, he decides to share his passion with others and in turn, introduces himself to a whole new group of friends. Gustavo the Shy Ghost Activities All in all, this is one spoopy book that I would recommend to all. It features bravery, friendship, ghosts, and violin music.

Gustavo is good at doing all sorts of ghostly things: walking through walls, making objects fly, and glowing in the dark. And he loves almost nothing more than playing beautiful music on his violin. But Gustavo is shy, and some things are harder for him to do, like getting in a line to buy eye scream or making friends with other monsters. Whenever he tries getting close to them, he realizes they just can't see him. Now that the Day of the Dead is fast approaching, what can he do to make them notice him and to share with them something he loves?"-- La historia trata sobre Gustavo, un fantasma tímido que ama tocar el violín y le es difícil hacer amigues. Está enamorado de Alma, la monstruita más linda, y quiere hablarle pero nunca tiene el suficiente coraje para hacerlo. Hasta que un día se da cuenta que para tener amigues les tiene que hablar a les otres monstruites, así que les invita a su concierto de violín. Then, show the students the picture of Gustavo our ghost. He is shy and needs help meeting new friends. Let’s make some introductions. Hold up one icon card and have students identify the beginning sound of each part of the name and then place it near Gustavo. Continue until all icon cards have been used.

{{{welcome}}}

I created several activities for students to practice retelling the beginning, middle, and end, story elements, and sequence the story.