Book excerpt: Frightfully Friendly Ghosties, described as "exciting, charming and ridiculous," by The Guardian, is a hilarious book for young readers about the adventures of a funny, charming, and terribly polite group of ghosts who just want to get along with their housemates. The cast of classic characters, brilliant one-liners, and clever plotting will delight children and parents alike. Tabitha Tumbly, Charlie Vapor, Rusty Chains, and their friends can't understand why the still-alives in their house are so mean. The friendlier the ghosties are--whether hiding under beds and rushing out to read the still-alives a bedtime story or swooping down the chimney just to say hello--the meaner the still-alives become! When the still-alive family puts garlic around the house and calls in a priest, however, the ghostie gloves come off. Tabitha and Charlie decide to invite The Ghoul to sort out the still-alives once and for all. But could the terrifying Ghoul prove to be more trouble than the ghosties bargained for? Daren King is the author of numerous popular children's books, including Mouse Noses on Toast, which won the Nestle Children's Gold Prize, and Peter the Penguin Pioneer, which was shortlisted for the Blue Peter Award. His debut novel, Boxy an Star, was nominated for the Guardian First Book Award and longlisted for the Booker Prize. From the Hardcover edition.