2026 Holiday Reading Challenge | The Running Bibliophile

-
Image
Who doesn’t love a good challenge, especially when it pushes you to read outside your comfort zone or discover a new author? I’ve always wanted to join a reading challenge or reading bingo, but so many of them feel repetitive. So, I decided to create something a little different. It doesn’t mean a challenge like this isn’t out there; I just haven’t come across one myself. Introducing The Running Bibliophile’s 2026 Holiday Reading Challenge, a fun and unique way to expand your reading list while celebrating the spirit of the year. This challenge features 14 books of your choice, with one key twist: each book’s plot must revolve around the specific holiday mentioned. The challenge runs for January 1 through January 31, 2026. To keep things exciting, you may not duplicate any books on the list. By the time you've completed the challenge, you will have read 14 new books to diversify your reading list. To kick things off, the first prompt is simple: choose any holiday-themed book as l...
Post a Comment

Book Review: The Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hohler

-

NetGalley ARC of The Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hohler
The Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hohler is a children's picture book that is being re-released in the United States by NorthSouth Books on July 18, 2023.  This humorous and not so scary book is about a little ghost that is learning to haunt the house she lives in with her parents, but her lessons don't go as planned as she ends up making the residents laugh instead tremble in fear.  Because of this, she is sent off to a castle to learn how to haunt properly.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and NorthSouth Books for approving my request to read The Little Scottish Ghost.  Originally published in 1980, I had never heard of this book growing up, and it sounded intriguing.  I knew I had to read it and was happy that I received the ebook for free in exchange for my honest review.

This is absolutely the kind of book I would have loved reading as a child. I have always been drawn to stories about ghosts, witches, and other magical or spooky, but friendly characters, and this book captures that playful spirit perfectly. Despite being about ghosts, the story is not frightening at all, making it an ideal picture book for young readers who may be curious about spooky themes but aren’t ready for anything truly scary. Instead, the story focuses on positive and reassuring messages. The Little Scottish Ghost teaches children that things don’t always go according to plan, but sometimes those unexpected outcomes can lead to something even better. It also shows that everyone has their own unique strengths, and being different doesn’t mean being wrong.

At the same time, the story offers a gentle reminder that things and people aren’t always what they seem at first glance, and young readers will likely relate to the little ghost’s desire to succeed and make her parents proud. While I enjoyed the overall story, I did feel at times that something may have been slightly lost in translation, which made certain moments feel less impactful than they could have been. However, this did not take away from the book’s charm.

The illustrations were absolutely wonderful and added so much personality and warmth to the story. The artwork helps bring the little ghost and her world to life, making the reading experience even more enjoyable. The expressive characters and detailed settings make this a visually engaging children’s book that young readers will love revisiting.

Overall, The Little Scottish Ghost by Franz Hohler is a delightful, humorous, and meaningful children’s picture book that combines gentle life lessons with entertaining storytelling. Its timeless message, lovable main character, and beautiful illustrations make it a strong addition to any child’s bookshelf, especially for readers who enjoy ghost stories that are more funny than frightening. I gave The Little Scottish Ghost four out of five stars.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Book Review: The Dare by Natasha Preston

-
Image
The Dare by Natasha Preston is a young adult horror novel centered on Marley and her friends Atlas, Lucia, and Jesse, all seniors in high school. What begins as harmless, lighthearted senior pranks quickly takes a dark turn when Rhett starts assigning dares that are far more serious and dangerous. As the stakes rise, the question becomes whether Marley and her friends will survive the consequences of playing along. A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced readers copy of The Dare by Natasha Preston. The last book I read by this author was well written and engaging, so I was excited to dive into her latest young adult horror story. From the start, the novel feels reminiscent of R.L. Stine’s Fear Street series, which instantly brought back a wave of childhood nostalgia. Unfortunately, that initial excitement didn’t last. Before long, the plot shifts into territory that felt eerily similar to the movie I Know What You Did Last Summer . At that point, my interest started ...
Read more

Book Review: The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker

-
Image
The Writer by James Patterson and J.D. Barker  was published on March 17, 2025. It opens with Detective Declan Shaw at a closed subway station trying to work up the nerve to commit suicide when he receives a call from his partner about a break in and homicide at the home of a true crime author. Shaw makes his way to the crime scene to work the case, and in a turn of events, Declan comes under scrutiny in another case loosely connected to this new case. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Writer  from NetGalley and Little , Brown, and Company for free in exchange for my honest review. I'm appreciative that my request for this book was approved. With this story opening with the main character trying to commit suicide, I almost didn't go any further with the book. However, I am glad I stuck with it as it took me on a fantastic ride and had my emotions all over the place. There were so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was ...
Read more

Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich

-
Image
Book Review: Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich Dirty Thirty (Stephanie Plum, #30) by Janet Evanovich is the latest installment in the long-running and beloved Stephanie Plum series, and it opens with Joe Morelli asking Stephanie to dog-sit his famously quirky dog, Bob, while he’s out of town testifying at a trial. As expected, things quickly spiral into chaos when Stephanie has to bring Bob along while attempting to apprehend her usual lineup of FTAs. Between chasing fugitives, dodging danger, and juggling her complicated personal life, Stephanie also finds herself seriously questioning whether marriage is something she truly wants. Each book in the Stephanie Plum series tends to follow a familiar and comforting formula, with everything wrapped up in a neat, tidy bow by the end. That predictability is actually one of the main reasons I keep coming back to these books. I always know Stephanie will get herself into trouble, Ranger or Morelli will step in to help,...
Read more