Ghosts for Breakfast

New Voices Award Honor, LEE & LOW BOOKS
Notable Children’s Book, Smithsonian

When the Troublesome Triplets complain that they have seen ghosts in Farmer Tanaka’s field, Papa sets off with his son to hunt the ghosts in this fun story set in 1920s California.

PON! PON! PON! PON!

The pounding on the door brings three unexpected guests to our young narrator’s home - Mr. Omi, Mr. Omaye, and Mr. Ono. The Troublesome Triplets, as they are called because they always seem to have some sort of complaint, have just seen ghosts - dozens of them - in Farmer Tanaka’s field! The ghosts were long and thin and white, very white, and they were dancing in the moonlight.

Papa thinks the situation is great fun, but his son isn’t so sure. After all, there are ghosts out there. So Papa decides to get to the bottom of the Triplets’ story. He sets off to hunt the ghosts, and he takes his son with him.

Set in California in the 1920s, this delightful father-son story speaks to all young children who yearn to overcome their fears. Readers also come to realize the hazards of jumping to conclusions, for things aren’t always what they seem.

In 2000, Lee & Low established its annual New Voices Award to encourage writers of color to enter the field of children’s literature. Ghosts for Breakfast was one of the honorees that year.