Ghostly Animals

Daniel Cohen was one of the most reliable voices in children's paranormal nonfiction, and this slim 1977 collection shows why. Drawing from folklore, newspaper accounts, and psychic investigation reports across multiple countries, Cohen presents accounts of spectral horses, dogs, cats, and other creatures with a calm, measured tone that informs rather than frightens. A bibliography and index give the book a light reference quality unusual for its age range. The treatment is genuinely even-handed — curious kids will find it fascinating rather than terrifying. Families with faith-based concerns about supernatural subject matter should know what they're getting; this is ghost-story territory, even if the approach is mild. At 81 pages it covers ground quickly, and the 1977 publication date means no updates to the folklore record, but it remains a solid choice for a middle-grade reader drawn to the unexplained.