‘Have You Ever Seen a Ghost?’ Turns a Paranormal Party Into a Tender Story About Anxiety
Daniel Kwan and Julia Pott’s new picture book, illustrated by Sean Lewis, follows a nervous ghost preparing for a party and worrying about making a good impression. The story blends playful audience participation with a gentle portrait of social anxiety and a happy ending.
A new picture book, Have You Ever Seen a Ghost?, arrives as a whimsical ghost story with a very human emotional center: anxiety about a party. Written by Daniel Kwan and Julia Pott and illustrated by Sean Lewis, the book is presented as a playful conversation with readers while its spectral protagonist worries about getting ready for an evening with Martha, another ghost.
The story begins in a tidy pink bedroom that appears empty at first glance, until an unseen narrator announces that a ghost is in the room. Readers are drawn in immediately, invited to notice details about the ghost’s floating pointed hat and to respond to questions about its style. That interactive setup gives the book a light, mischievous tone even before the plot reveals what is really troubling its lead character.
As the narrative unfolds, Ghost is shown trying to prepare for an upcoming party. The character experiments with makeup, practices small talk, and looks for advice about what gift to bring the host. A stumble while going to fetch the present triggers a wave of panic, expressed through a rush of “what if” thoughts that spill across the page. The book uses those anxious spirals to turn a simple social errand into a vivid emotional crisis.