Grandpa Bert and the Ghost Snatchers

Grandma Gertie is the most unusual person that Anna and Kasper have ever met. She wears huge, square spectacles, carries a real parrot on her head and says the most peculiar things. When she visits them from Barbados, she is accompanied by an extraordinary travelling companion: squeezed into her handbag is the ghost of Grandpa Bert!

Grandma Gertie is convinced that she is being followed, and when her handbag is stolen, her fears are confirmed. Luckily, Grandpa Bert has moved into Anna’s cap, but when the robbers make another appearance, it becomes clear that they are no ordinary thieves. They are ghost snatchers, determined to capture Grandpa Bert.

Fast-paced and funny, featuring a BAME (Black, Asian, and minority ethnic) family, this fantastic addition to the superb Little Gems series is designed to appeal to reluctant and dyslexic readers. Special editing minimises barriers to comprehension, a clear font helps avoid confusing letter shapes, and thick paper ensures words and pictures don’t show through the pages and confuse the eye.

The lively, colourful illustrations are a perfect accompaniment to the text, which is written by former Children’s Laureate, Malorie Blackman. Look out for the activities and jokes, which are hidden under the cover flaps.