Written in the style of a guidebook, this is a fun story to have at Halloween or any other time – perhaps not bedtime though, if you have an impressionable small child.

Herein we learn how to identify a ghost – very important if you want to make friends with one. Those depicted are of the especially endearing, somewhat whimsical kind.

Divided into parts, we look first at ‘Ghost Basics’, starting with, not to flee from a ghost should one choose to greet you – that’s on account of their sensitivity. Instead appear friendly and bestow upon the apparition a smile.

Then, should it decide to follow you home, welcome it in, if needs be helped by a gentle blow. It’s especially important to keep your hands clear just in case you accidentally put your hand right through and cause the thing a stomach ache.

‘Ghost Care’ describes feeding – preferably plenty of its favourite treats – cooking together and recommended ghost-tempting fare. Think I’d pass on sharing any of that.

Recommended activities take up part three. Apparently ghosts have a special liking for collecting items such as worms, leaves and acorns; reading scary stories is another favourite pastime, and of course, joke telling – particularly of the ‘knock-knock’ sort.

The more obvious Halloween doings are included, naturally. So too are bedtime considerations (eerie hums and wails make great lullabies); places to hide your visitor should someone come calling; hazards – avoid using your ghost as a nose wiper; banning ghost help with the washing and most crucially, ‘Do not let your ghost get eaten!’ (in mistake for whipped cream or marshmallows perhaps).

Part Three comprises ideas for life together as you both age for, as we hear, a ghost friend is a forever friend. And to end with a quote from Dr Phantoneous Spookel: “If you’ve been lucky enough to be found / by a ghost that calls you its ‘friend’, / Then your friendship will last / for it knows no bounds / you’ll be friends even after the end.” Now that’s a spooky, albeit tenderly poignant ending, if ever.

With somewhat sophisticated illustrations executed in an appropriately subtle colour palette, even down to the endpapers and some of the printed text, the whole ghosty experience, imbued as it is with sense of mischief, is enormous fun.