Overhearing with Oslo Davis - Gone to the Ghost World

Today Oslo shares one of his favourite Japanese kids books- a book that is certainly worth keeping in mind if you find yourself with children who don't want to go to sleep! Be sure to visit Oslo's website and take some time to snoop around for more of Oslo's brilliant work as well as details of his books (that's a good idea for a Christmas gift!). -Jenny x

Japanese children's books seem scarier than Australian or American ones. My wife, who is Japanese, orders picture books from Japan and we use these to scare the bejesus out of our kids. One book especially hit me as being quite scary for a three-year-old, and so I was inspired to draw a cartoon about it. Gone to the Ghost World ran in Meanjin, a local journal.

Later, my wife made a soft toy of this little scary ghost character, just to drill in a bit more fear and dread.

- Oslo