Ghost Fever/Mal de Fantasma (English and Spanish Edition) Paperback – Picture Book, September 1, 2006

I read this every year since to my students. Joe Hayes visited my school and I enjoy being able to talk about his visit just before reading the book. The kids always ask if he could come back. They also beg for more to this story. I like the creepy, but friendly twist this book offers. I even read the Spanish phrases mixed within the English sentences; my Spanish-speaking students translate before I reveal it to the rest of the class.

It is hard to find good quality, bilingual books on this level for children. So many books are available with poor, literal, or European translations that do little to help English/Spanish readers in the Southern region of the United States. Plus, this book is high-interest. My fourth, fifth, and even sixth graders love the story. I wish there were more bilingual books that fit this category. So far this is the only one I've found.

Joe Hayes tells interesting Spanish folktales from New Mexico. The English and Spanish are always right next to each other.

This is to me, a classic paranormal story. A house has been haunted and its inhabitants are a bit scared. In this case, the ghostly presence of a girl, speaks to the living and makes her understand why she died.I have watched many a paranormal show where the ghost have been pushed out of a house without trying to find out why the are in limbo to begin with. I enjoyed that the daughter, Elena, in this book, not only helped this girl move on but she set things up so that another could live a good life.This chapter book was written in English and Spanish which not only spoke to the authors style of writing but also the diversity of the characters in the book which were Hispanic. Some Spanish is intertwined within the English in order to make a strong point. That to me was interesting.There are few illustrations, as again, this is a chapter book, but the ones that are in the book help give the spooky vibe that the book was meant to be.I love this story and since the author is actually a story teller by trade, I would love to hear his verbal telling. This story deserves a 5 star.Do no believe me? This book won the Texas Bluebonnet Award for 2007.Disclosure: I obtained a copy of this book at my local library. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may differ from yours. ~M.M. aka Naila Moon

i hear about this book in the forth grade and am now a freashman in college and decided to read it it is short i picked it up and was finished in 3-4 hours but it was worth it that book is so good and when my little brother gets old enough ill pass it onto him love the book!!

i read in in middle school i am happy i can read it againi read it in 2 days it was a short store but love to read it again and again

Ghost Fever won the Texas Bluebonnet Award for 2007, joining previous Bluebonnet ghost stories winners. including The Ghost of Fossil Glen in 2000, Time For Andrew: A Ghost Story in 1996, Wait 'Til Helen Comes in 1989 and Christina's Ghost in 1988.Joe Hayes is a professional storyteller known for his Southwestern stories. This 87 page book is the kind of chapter book I love because young readers, still gaining fluency, can move through the story quickly and feel successful that they have mastered "a chapter book." It certainly qualifies as the kind of "scary" book young readers seek.Cole Cash rents houses in Duston, Arizona on the wrong side of the tracks. No matter what he does though, he cannot rent one abandoned house to anyone. In desperation he offers 6 months free rent to whoever will sign a one year lease. Rumors of ghosts keep the house empty until Elena's father hears about it. Newly unemployed with two young daughters, Frank Padilla decides to move his family in despite warnings and advice from family and friends. Luckily, Abuelita knows a thing or two about the spirit world so she takes fourteen year old Elena aside to warn her about ghosts.She instructs Elena on how to talk to a spirit and warns her that she may be the only one who can hear or see it. Mona Pennypacker did the soft pencil illustrations which nicely evoke the apparition on pages 43 and the very creepy on page 63. I know these 2 pictures elicited the "oooooohs" when I introduced the Bluebonnet list last fall.

Ghost Fever Mal de Fantasma by Joe Hayes is a spin-tingler that would be great for reluctant readers, especially those who are trying to learn English or Spanish. It is written in a bilingual style, small sections written in English and then the Spanish version mirrored right after it.The story's setting is a southwestern town in the 1950's where a haunted house keeps tenants leery of renting it. The house's reputation is so bad the owner has to give away free rent just to find tenants. Finally a father (Frank) and his daughter (Elena) move in. The father seems nonplused with the noises and strange occurrences, but his daughter is not so oblivious. She feels a connection with the ghost because the ghost-girl is her age, and mysteriously died falling off the roof of the house. Elana tries to help the ghost, but ends up dealing with problems of her own.Students in middle school and high school would enjoy this book, especially those who love a good ghost story. Its bilingual style makes an inviting read for students who are struggling to learn a second language.