Hip Hip Hooray!!! It’s a Book Birthday Post! Today we are welcoming GILBERT & THE GHOST into the world!

Written by Heather Stigall / Illustrated by Jess Mason
Beaming Books / August 19, 2025

Book Synopsis:

The ghost at 632 Savannah Street is real . . . right?

Gilbert often feels invisible, just like the ghost living at 632 Savannah Street. Despite his family’s disbelief, Gilbert leaves gifts for the ghost: a friendship bracelet, a plate of cookies, even a drawing with a note. When each disappears one by one, Gilbert finds that believing and friendship are worth the effort.

For kids who might often feel unseen, Gilbert and the Ghost is a ghostly tale of overcoming obstacles and finding friendship in mysterious places. Gothic, whimsical illustrations make this picture book perfect for spooky season, while its earnest themes make it worth a read all year round.

ME: I love books that can be used year-round! I also love when authors stop by to share a bit about how their books came to be…let’s welcome a dear kid lit friend of mine, author Heather Stigall.

HEATHER: Thank you, Vivian, for celebrating Gilbert and the Ghost’s book birthday on your blog! This story began with two things – a title idea and a childhood memory. The title came about during Tara Lazar’s 2020 StoryStorm challenge. Because I like wordplay, I thought “ghost writer” had potential for a picture book title. The childhood memory came from my happy place – the beach. When I was a child, my parents and aunt and uncle rented the same beach house for a few weeks each summer. One year, before we left our rental for the season, my cousins and I hid a note somewhere in the house, hoping to find a reply when we returned the following year. Surely someone would want to be our pen pal! The next summer, we checked our secret hiding spot. Did anyone reply? No. But our note was missing! Someone must have read it, right? Maybe they did reply, but another renter received the note before us. So, we tried again, for several years, believing that eventually we would become friends with another beach lover, even if we never met. With that memory in mind, I wondered if I could write a story about a child who wrote notes to a ghost he believed lived in his neighborhood, even though no one else believed. A friendship story between a child, who understood what it felt like to be invisible, just like a ghost, and a ghost, who might want a friend too. So, I did!

But the story doesn’t end there. Just like Gilbert in his pursuit to befriend the ghost he believes lives in his neighborhood, this book’s publication journey took persistence, resiliency, and belief. After several revisions and rounds with my critique partners, I began querying the manuscript. Among the usual rejections, I received a few requests for more work from agents and one offer of representation. After signing with my agent, we went out on submission to publishers. That resulted in several passes until an editor from Beaming Books expressed interest. But they didn’t offer immediately. The team had some questions about the story’s ending. So, I explained my vision for the story and crossed my fingers while waiting for a response. I was thrilled (and relieved) to receive a book deal with expected publication in fall 2024 (nope, that’s not a typo). In spring 2023, after I had completed edits and seen cover sketches for the book, my agent decided to step back from agenting, my editor was let go, and Beaming decided to push Gilbert’s publication to fall 2026 (still not a typo). It was a rough spring! Fast forward one more year: I had found a new agent, and Beaming Books decided to published Gilbert in fall 2025. That brings us today. Finally, after years of effort and waiting and believing, Gilbert and the Ghost is out in the world for readers to enjoy! 

ME: Oh my goodness! What patience! What persistence! We are so happy you never gave up on this story, dear Heather! And I know that many blog followers will relate to and sympathize with your journey…you give all of us hope!

Heather’s (Author) Bio:

Heather Stigall uses her experience with children and her degrees in Child Development, Psychology-based Human Relations, and Social Work to create stories that speak to kids. She is an active volunteer for the Eastern PA Chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, a member of the 12×12 Picture Book Challenge, and a wife and parent to five children and one pup. When she’s not writing, you can find Heather hanging out with her kids (hopefully at the beach), reading, eating chocolate, baking, or creating all sorts of treasures. She is the author of GILBERT AND THE GHOST (Beaming Books, 2025) which Kirkus Reviews praised as “a surefire hit for readers looking for seasonal fun.” Her debut picture book, PAISLEY’S BIG BIRTHDAY (Clavis Publishing, 2023), was a 2023 Keystone to Reading Elementary Book Award nominee and is available in six languages. You can connect with Heather through her website, HeatherPierceStigall.com, and her social media links at https://linktr.ee/HeatherStigall.

Jess Mason’s (Illustrator) Bio:

Jess Mason is an illustrator, cat lover, and avid reader. She graduated with first-class honors in illustration from the University of Worcester in 2018. Since then, she has worked on twelve middle-grade and picture books. Jess happily resides in a tiny cottage in Worcestershire, England with her beloved cat, Steve.

To find out more about Heather Stigall:

Website: https://www.heatherpiercestigall.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heatherpstigall

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heather_stigall7/

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heatherstigall7.bsky.social

You can find ordering options for Gilbert and the Ghost on Heather’s website as well as free downloadable educator materials

Thank you all for spending your precious time with us…and if you have a few more minutes, you can help this book become a success:
Buy the book
Review the book
Tell friends about the book (Please share on your social media)
Ask your local library to purchase copies for their collection

I hope you all have a wonderful week!