The Boy And The Ghost — Robert D. San Souci

Thomas is the youngest of seven children. His parents work from sunup to sundown on their little back-country farm, but earn barely enough to keep food on the table. Thomas goes out into the world to help remedy the situation and, along the way, shows kindness to a stranger. The stranger rewards him by leading him to a house in which a treasure is hidden, but guarded by a fearsome ghost.

Through San Souci''s gently scary words and Pinkney''s wonderfully atmospheric illustrations, Thomas outwits the ghost and wins the day -- and the treasure.