Little Ghost and the Robot
David Litchfield
Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Little Ghost lives happily in an abandoned house and all she wants is somebody to play with. Then one day some men bring a large box and leave it at the house; on it is a label saying HOGARTHS. Noises start coming from inside the box and out jumps a robot. Little Ghost invites the robot to play with her but Robot responds, “Playing games is not logical.” Little Ghost persists and they play all manner of games before Robot realises that he’s been delivered to the wrong place. When Little Ghost suggests that Hogarths could be Robot’s family and explains the meaning of family, Robot asks her to help find them. Off they set to the big city – an extremely busy place with crowds of people. But there’s one woman, who is all by herself; she introduces herself as Mrs Potts. She tells the visitors that the building they are outside is a theatre but she’s too scared to go in alone in case she feels sad. The newcomers talk to Mrs Potts, help her overcome her fear and in they all go.
The theatre is a truly magical place and afterwards Mrs P. offers to take them to the Hogarths, which she knows. First though, Little Ghost wants to see one more magical thing and all three sit beneath a tree and watch the sun setting over the skyline. Then it’s time to find Robot’s family; but it turns out that HOGARTHS is not a family but a large factory where robots are made. But unlike Robot, these other robots seem lifeless.
Little Ghost then offers to be Robot’s family to which he willingly agrees. Back they all go to the abandoned house where they bid farewell to Mrs Potts or do they? Perhaps a family of three would be better than a family of two …
David Litchfield’s soft textured dreamy scenes blend smudgy, magical mists and sparkles and when they reach the big bustling city, there’s a deep pinkish red glow to the sky, while at ground level, the dazzling lights shine out like diamonds. Affection and love shine forth too, from the words of the story, a touching tale of found family, which will surely fascinate children.
