Dickens & Rumi

book

Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips

Debbie Dadey; Marcia Thornton Jones · 1992

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips by Debbie Dadey; Marcia Thornton Jones. This book is content notes include Frightening scenes, Death of a character, Products & advertising; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Book 5 · Adventures of the Bailey School KidsSource checked

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsFrightening scenes 2/5 · Death of a character 1/5 · Products & advertising 1/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 3/5 · Creativity & curiosity 3/5
Series positionBook 5 · Adventures of the Bailey School Kids
Recommendation3/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: frightening scenes.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Frightening scenes 2/5
Recommendation 3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
12Scored categories
12Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 6, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth12 scored categories12 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes2/5
  • Death of a character1/5
  • Products & advertising1/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity3/5
  • Good role models3/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 6 · Frankenstein Doesn't Plant PetuniasStrongest cautions: Frightening scenes 2/5 · Products & advertising 1/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · Vampires Don't Wear Polka Dots
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · Werewolves Don't Go to Summer Camp
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  3. Book 3 · Santa Claus Doesn't Mop Floors
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  4. Book 4 · Leprechauns Don't Play Basketball
    Frightening scenes2/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  5. Book 5 · Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips
    Frightening scenes2/5Death of a character1/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  6. Book 6 · Frankenstein Doesn't Plant Petunias
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  7. Book 7 · Aliens Don't Wear Braces
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  8. Book 8 · Genies Don't Ride Bicycles
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  9. Book 9 · Pirates Don't Wear Pink Sunglasses
    Frightening scenes2/5
    Gets gentler
  10. Book 10 · Witches Don't Do Backflips
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  11. Book 11 · Skeletons Dont Play Tubas
    Frightening scenes3/5Death of a character1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  12. Book 12 · Cupid Doesn't Flip Hamburgers
    Frightening scenes2/5Romance2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  13. Book 13 · Gremlins Don't Chew Bubble Gum
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets gentler
  14. Book 14 · Monsters Don't Scuba Dive
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  15. Book 15 · Zombies Don't Play Soccer
    Frightening scenes2/5Death of a character1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  16. Book 16 · Dracula doesn't drink lemonade
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  17. Book 17 · Elves Don't Wear Hard Hats
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  18. Book 18 · Martians Don't Take Temperatures
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  19. Book 19 · Gargoyles Don't Drive School Buses
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  20. Book 20 · Wizards Don't Need Computers
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  21. Book 21 · Mummies Don't Coach Softball
    Frightening scenes2/5Death of a character1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  22. Book 22 · Cyclops Doesn't Roller Skate
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  23. Book 23 · Angels Don't Know Karate
    Frightening scenes1/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  24. Book 24 · Dragons Don't Cook Pizza
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  25. Book 25 · Bigfoot Doesn't Square Dance
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  26. Book 26 · Mermaids Don't Run Track
    Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  27. Book 27 · Bogeymen Don't Play Football
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  28. Book 28 · Unicorns Don't Give Sleigh Rides
    Frightening scenes1/5Religious themes1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same
  29. Book 29 · Knights Don't Teach Piano
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  30. Book 30 · Hercules Doesn't Pull Teeth
    Frightening scenes1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  31. Book 31 · Ghouls don't scoop ice cream
    Frightening scenes2/5Death of a character1/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense
  32. Book 32 · Phantoms Don't Drive Sports Cars
    Frightening scenes2/5Death of a character1/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    About the same
  33. Book 33 · Giants Don't Go Snowboarding
    Frightening scenes2/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets gentler
  34. Book 34 · Frankenstein Doesn't Slam Hockey Pucks
    Frightening scenes2/5Death of a character1/5Products & advertising1/5Strong language1/5Violence1/5
    Gets more intense

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What’s in it?

Products & advertising1/5
Why this rating?

Potato chips are part of the title or humor, but there is no meaningful product-promotion focus.

Death of a character1/5
Why this rating?

The premise involves ghosts, so death may be discussed in a non-graphic, child-friendly way; death is not expected to be shown intensely.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Any language is likely limited to mild insults, teasing, or child-appropriate expressions.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Ghostly rumors, suspense, and spooky investigation provide mild scares, but the humorous tone keeps them manageable.

Violence1/5
Why this rating?

Minor comic peril or conflict may occur during the children's investigation; violence is not a major feature.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

The children investigate something frightening and persist despite uncertainty, showing age-appropriate bravery.

Creativity & curiosity3/5
Why this rating?

The mystery encourages imaginative thinking, observation, and inventive explanations for unusual events.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The child cast provides some group variety, but broad representation of backgrounds and identities is not known to be central.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

It may support reading fluency, inference, and social problem-solving, but education is incidental rather than the main purpose.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Friendship and cooperation are likely present, though kindness is not the sole focus of the plot.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story likely supports curiosity, cooperation, facing fears, and checking assumptions rather than believing rumors blindly.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Children work together and show initiative, though they may also make impulsive choices typical of comic adventure stories.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Ghosts Don't Eat Potato Chips, and what caused that change?
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Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

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