When I first heard about this book a few years back, I knew that it would be something I'd like. I didn’t get a chance to read it at the original publication date; now that I have, I can see that my instincts were right and I’m more than pleased. In this story, a lonely little ghost has a hard time fitting in with his fellow young apparitions. Because he’s made of quilted fabric and not a thin sheet like them, he can’t hide or fly swiftly with swoops and turns, and as such gets teased for it. His unexpected experience on one special Halloween night with a little girl and her mother gives the little ghost a lesson in the importance of celebrating himself, quilted patterned and all.

Through her narrative text, author Riel Nason captures the emotions of anyone that is insecure about some aspect of themselves, uplifting their uniqueness while also recognizing the strength of their desire to fit in. This book is almost dialogue-free, recounting the action in real time. Little Quilt-Ghost (that’s what I’m calling him) is a sensitive fellow, and Nason really captures his thoughts and reactions to the world around him. One can’t help growing attached to him and sharing in his sweet smile when he finds the perfect circumstances for his unique composition.

Byron Eggenschwiler’s illustrations are lovely and create the atmosphere well, with a limited, gray-brown color palette with splashes of bright hues to indicate difference. It was a clever choice to make Little Quilt-Ghost’s patches in various shades of blue, which make him easy to see, even when he’s trying to hide. There are curious little details in the ghost house with hints about how they live. One of my favorite details are the old family pictures on the wall showing the ghosts interacting (knowingly?) with what seem to be former human residents of the house. The illustrations have a timeless feel yet also reflect the mid-1960s style of children’s book illustration. This seems supported by the lack of modern technology and somewhat old-fashioned costumes of the young trick-or-treaters, and especially by the turntable in the little girl’s house, which is a great touch.

There is a quirky, humorous tone to the book that never overshadows the overall sentiment; I can see older children who have a similarly offbeat and slightly different sense of humor liking it. (I’ve always been drawn to books about loners and those who are different, even those made of cloth.) I do wish that Little Quilt-Ghost could have stayed with the little girl. She and her mother were attached to him and handled him well, and I imagine that she'd be hurt to not find him there the next day. Their combined love and care would have guaranteed his face as a family heirloom, but that would also separate him from his ghost community, including his parents, which wouldn’t work. I also would have liked to see Little Quilt-Ghost’s parents and his interactions with them, as well as the parents of his peers.

The author has created a separate ghost world with its own set of rules and standards, which are fascinating but also raise a few questions. For example, she states that ghosts are afraid of humans and tend to avoid them, but this is odd considering that ghosts are traditionally previously deceased people, so how did these ghosts come about? Do ghost clans simply take up residence in random abandoned houses, or were the humans in the photos connected to them somehow? And exactly how did Little Quilt-Ghost come out looking the way that he did? Are the quilt qualities a form of recessive gene? His parents mention that his grandmother was a lace curtain; can different linens and fabrics reproduce with each other? The fact that I have these questions, which are the things that little me would also have asked, further adds to the appeal to me and is a testament to the book’s charm.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Tundra Books, for this DRC In exchange for a fair and honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

A simply lovely book about what adventures you can have if you are different. The style is sweetly reminiscent of Adrienne Adams and Laura Pérez. For all Halloween lovers out there.

"When you're a quilt instead of a sheet, being a ghost is hard! A contemporary picture book classic, now available in a stunning special gilded edition - a perfect gift for the little ghost lovers in your life.

Ghosts are supposed to be sheets, light as air and able to whirl and twirl and float and soar. But the little ghost who is a quilt can't whirl or twirl at all, and when he flies, he gets very hot.

He doesn't know why he's a quilt. His parents are both sheets, and so are all of his friends. (His great-grandmother was a lace curtain, but that doesn't really help cheer him up.) He feels sad and left out when his friends are zooming around and he can't keep up.

But one Halloween, everything changes. The little ghost who was a quilt has an experience that no other ghost could have, an experience that only happens because he's a quilt...and he realizes that it's OK to be different.

This special gift edition is unjacketed, with a newly designed cloth-like spine, a foil-stamped cover and beautiful gilded edges."

I mean, you NEED this beautiful gift edition on your shelves. You NEED IT!

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt is one of those picture books that sticks with you - soft, sweet, and totally adorable. The idea of a ghost made from a cozy quilt instead of a classic sheet is unique, and the story is all about learning to love what makes you different.

Even 25 years later, it still feels fresh and comforting. The illustrations are warm and whimsical and the message is timeless. It’s the kind of book you read as a kid and want to pass down — like a favorite blanket that never gets old.

Perfect for snuggly storytimes or just a feel-good read. Happy anniversary, little ghost! 👻💛

My thanks to Tundra Books for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tundra Book Group for the complimentary copy of this book.

Okay, this was freaking adorable. The little ghost who was a quilt was upset that he didn’t fit in with everyone else. All of his family and friends were sheets and he didn’t understand why he was a quilt made up of squares of different fabrics. He was made fun of because of being different. Then a little girl shows up and she helps completely change his outlook.

This is a story of self-acceptance and finding your purpose. This was a really cute way to instill self-love into kids. Also, the art was really neat and I just loved the whole vibe of it.

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt is an engaging and sweetly written picture book for young readers by Riel Nason. Originally released in 2022, this special foil imprint gift edition is being released 1st July 2025 by Penguin Random House on their Tundra imprint, it's 48 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats (special foil embossed gift edition is in hardcover).

Instead of being a sheet like his friends and family, Little Ghost is a patchwork quilt. He feels left out and just -different-. Through his adventures, he finally figures out that just maybe, being different isn't always a bad thing.

The text is simple, spare, and direct. The softly rendered illustrations by Byron Eggensehwiler enhance the story very well and are full of atmosphere and expressive details (see Little Ghost's facial expression on the cover, for example).

Five stars. This is a wonderful book for kids with good takeaways for all-ages. It would be an excellent choice for public or classroom library, home use, and gift giving, as well as a library story-time or reading circle.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

A beautiful cozy story with outstanding illustrations. I want to buy a copy to read and a copy to frame. A relaxing read that makes you feel happy and gooey inside.

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt is such a sweet book! It’s exactly the kind of story I loved as a kid (and still love now). I love the sort of books where a character is a little different but they aren’t presented as something to pity, they’re just different and that’s okay.

The artwork is just beautiful, it has such a cute style and color palette. I struggle with reading text on dark backgrounds so a few pages were challenging for me to read- I don’t think it’s very common for people to have such difficulties, but it may present challenges for certain people. Just something to keep in mind when kids are reading books with text on dark backgrounds.

Big thank you to Riel Nason, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for this spooky sweet book!

What a cute book about a ghost just wanting to belong. I love children's books about felling different because all children feel it at some point or another and it's an important feeling to navigate. The Ghost Quilt can't fly as fast, feels hot and sweaty but has bravery and courage like no other ghost he knows and he was important to the little girl that he kept warm on Halloween. Such a cute story!

A new twist on the stories of how it can be a good thing to be different because everyone has their own strengths. It was cute, but I'm not sure how often I would choose to read it with a child of the right age group.

A cute picture book showing the importance of being brave to be yourself. Most ghosts are made of sheets that are light and can float, but we meet a ghost made out of a quilt who is heavy and finds floating difficult. They learn to be themselves and to set up and be brave.

Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra Books for the ARC.
My kids and I adore this book. It's definitely a must-have for Halloween, The illustrations are so beautiful and captivating, and the story is light and heartwarming.
Is another Is ok to be different story, but done in a very sweet, unique way.
My 5-year-old asked me for a physical copy as soon as we were done, and when we went to order it online, we saw other parents making little ghost quilts with their kids. We spent the weekend re-reading this book and making a cute little ghost quilt blanket.
5/5 This book and the experience will forever be in my heart.

I absolutely love this book and am so excited for it to come out so I can put it in my nanny kiddos Halloween baskets. This book is a perfect reminder that you should use your differences to your advantage and embrace who you are. Perfect for any little ones who may be struggling with feeling left out and letting them know that because they are different that it just makes them even more special and it’s something to admire.

Vibes/Themes: hopeful, lighthearted, reflective, relaxing, and fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
Star Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

This was adorable! 🥰 The art is cute and well done, and the story was very wholesome and sweet! I liked that the quilt ghost did not put itself down, but showed how others can see different as bad. I loved how the little ballerina felt warm and cozy. It showed a normal range of emotions and how brave the little ghost was when something happened that it was not expecting! It’s a great addition to any child’s bookcase, especially around Halloween! 🎃 👻

Thank you to the author and publisher for this NetGalley eARC. ☺️

This was a very sweet children's book with a focus on a courageous little ghost who was a quilt. He had quirks. But he accepted them and was brave with them. I loved the art work the ghost being the only color besides the little girl was interesting. Any page could be framed.

Overall: 4.5⭐
Plot/Lesson:° 4📍
Smiles: 3 😁
Illustrations: 5 🖌️
Suggested Ages: 0 - 8 y/o

"Mom's" Review:
While originally published in 2020, this was our first time reading about a sweet little quilt ghost! Its such a charming story and shares a simply but powerful message. You're made exactly as you should be. Being different is not a bad thing.

And Eggenschwiler's illustrations are just beautiful. His use of color vibrancy to create emphasis was lovely, really making our little Quilt Ghost pop! You'll be sure to love this gilded edition!

A's Review:^
I'm so happy Quilty's friends stopped being man to him and realized that being different is what makes us all special. It's boring if everyone [looks, acts, and things] exactly the same.

Sometimes it's hard to remember that when friends aren't being very nice. Although, Mommy tells me friends don't treat friends that way. So I really liked when Quilty found the nice girl and her mommy who made him feel good again.

C's Review:*
I really liked when house ghost friend were hiding in the bushes at the playground! Hide and seek is the best. It was so funny to see their heads sticking out if the leaves!

Halloween is my favorite so I asked Mommy to read the book again straight away! And I already asked her to read it romorrow for bedtime, too.

"Dad's” Review:
This was a great story for the girls. They were both highly engrossed in both the words read as well as the nice illustrations.

Some of the subtle humor was really a nice surprise. I'm sure the kids will be rereading/requesting this one quite a bit.

Thank you to Riel Nason, Byron Eggenschwiler, Tundra Book Group & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this beautiful special gilded edition!

All opinions are my own.

° = Our Plot/Lesson rating is how well the kiddos picked up on the morals/lessons learned or well received the facts were.
^ = A, "Ready to Read" level 3, voracious reader
* = C, learning her letters, but memorizes stories well!

Update: this has been a re-read request every single night (and sometimes during the day!) since we were granted the opportunity to review this book! We're at 16 rereads and counting!

What a delightful story! I will definitely be reading this to my students. This is about a ghost who was a quilt and different from his friends. This is a great message about embracing your differences. And sometimes being different is useful. This is a great book for home and the classroom.

Riel Nason’s The Little Ghost Who Was A Quilt is an incredibly cute, simple, and unique concept. Sometimes being different is good.

The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt is a wonderfully illustrated book that follows our little Ghost who is different from those around him. Although ghosts point out how being different is good, this little ghost doesn't feel that way, and has some trouble with other ghosts making fun of him. He is then able to go on an adventure with a HUMAN, all because he is who he is!

I love the simplicity of this book, and that the only colours used are shades of grey, black, orange, pink and beige, whereas the little ghost is in blues! It really makes him stand out in the book, and easy for kids to quickly spot him in the pages.

I also liked that he didn't change everything to stay with the human either, but had the experience and then went home to the other ghosts. It really shows that you can do hard things as you are, but don't need to change anything about you. And that is a great message to have in a book!

Kids will identify with the little quilt's dismay at being different and parents will be charmed with the sweet humour. All readers will love the story. This Canadian classic makes me feel all warm inside. #netgalley #tundra

This fun little Halloween children's book was absolutely adorable. It had a very strong message behind it and that was no matter who you are, what color your skin is, gender, religion, to be yourself and people will love you for who you are if it is meant for them to be in your life. I would definitely buy this book to have in the children's part of my collection and read it with my sister or future kids!