Review by Booklist Review
Poor Count. All he wants is a glass of nice red blood, but the young owner of the I Don't Vant to Suck Your Blood Smoothie Shop just won't give him any--it's much too precious! In response to the Count's increasingly desperate entreaties, the young entrepreneur explains how blood flows through arteries, arterioles, and capillaries, and then back to the heart, but not into the Count's open mouth, as suggested. When the Count begs for just a teeny tiny bit, the boy explains the importance of every part of blood, from red cells to white cells to platelets and plasma. The Count is repulsed when he hears that some critters have blue or transparent or even green blood, but is definitely interested in blood donation drives, until he learns he won't be on the guest list. Silliness abounds, but the accessible text and perfectly aligned cartoon illustrations deliver a lot of solid information in manageable gulps. This companion to Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack is sure to keep young audiences giggling.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Horn Book Review
The "I Don't Vant to Suck Your Blood" smoothie shop is a vegan establishment, but a thirsty vampire fails to notice (although viewers will, courtesy of the comical illustrations), and orders "a pint of your best blood..." The young (vampire) proprietor launches into an enthusiastic explanation of why blood is "too important to humans for us just to drink it," describing how it travels through the cardiovascular system and why. Meanwhile, the elder vampire grows increasingly desperate: "Vhen does it flow into my mouth?" As in McAnulty's Brains!: Not Just a Zombie Snack, accessible text and art balance lightly macabre humor with clear information, making the biology lesson easy to swallow. A "Dear Blood-Filled Reader" note, additional facts, and a source list are appended. Kitty Flynn September/October 2022 p.45(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Why do humans make blood, if not for thirsty vampires? McAnulty teams up with illustrator Tenney to follow up her Brains! Not Just a Zombie Snack (2021) with a closer look at blood--specifically, human blood. Two movie-style vampires (pointy ears, widow's peaks, and prominent canine teeth) engage in a funny yet edifying discussion about this essential liquid. The taller, older, purplish vampire, amusingly dressed in a pinstripe suit, really just wants to drink someone's blood. They've walked from their spooky hilltop castle and bellied up to the bar at the "I Don't Vant To Suck Your Blood Smoothie Shop," having misread what's on offer. To the older vampire's dismay, the younger, shorter, rounder, blue-skinned one states that blood is more important to humans and belongs "in the cardiovascular systems" rather than in smoothie blenders. The little vampire clearly describes why blood is essential for human bodies; how it moves around the body via arteries, arterioles, and capillaries; what's in it (white and red blood cells, plasma, and platelets); and what these components do (white blood cells fight disease). The tall vampire's increasing disappointment is hilarious, but by the time the lively explanation is complete, they seem fairly sanguine about choosing a delicious, nonblood, chocolate milkshake. An author's note emphasizes the importance of donating blood, and backmatter offers several intriguing facts about blood. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Entertaining and informative. (Informational picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
