All in all, this is one spoopy book that I would recommend to all. It features bravery, friendship, ghosts, and violin music.

Amé las ilustraciones, no solo los dibujos sino también los patrones, las texturas y las referencias mexicanas. ¡Ojalá pronto pueda leer más sobre Gustavo!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. This is a fantasy story with supernatural elements as Gustavo is a ghost. Gustavo is incredibly shy, so he has a hard time making friends. One day, he decides to be brave and invite all of his monster friends to his violin concert on Día de los Muertos. This small gesture of friendship completely changes Gustavo’s life.

Mexican-born author/illustrator Drago sweetly captures the angst-y little ghost’s perpetual perturbation…Iconic images of Mexican culture cleverly pepper the scenery. With the papel picado banners, panes de muerto, and Catrinas, Drago provides a festive environment for Gustavo’s laments. Decorated skulls peek out from around every corner; even the family goldfish is a smiling skeleton. This ghostly tale proves that anyone can have a happily-ever-after. This is such a sweet little story! The storyline is simple and easy-to-follow. I especially love how well Dragó explores the themes of friendship, loneliness, bravery, and being true to yourself. These are familiar but timeless themes. The book presents them in a lovely, accessible, and visually appealing way that will be easily relatable to both child and adult readers. Gustavo is a sympathetic protagonist, and the illustrations are filled with appealing monsters and witty details. 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. Born and raised in Mexico City, Drago fills her sweet ghost story with vibrant colors, textures, and authentic details from Mexican culture. Her illustrations burst with whimsical flourishes and clever details that youngsters will want to pore over repeatedly. While ideal for Day of the Dead, this heartwarming story about bravely taking the first step toward friendship is wonderful for little listeners year-round.Mexican artist Drago’s picture book debut offers a gentle friendship tale and folk-art-style, textural mixed-media pictures. Gustavo, the Shy Ghost is a sweet and beautifully illustrated read. I loved this picture book and I am excited to see what Flavia Z. Dragó puts out next!