Vampire vs. the beach

PreS-Gr 2--Summer and fall meld in this picture book about tolerance and the rewards of trying something new. Drac, a friendly vampire, wants to have a summertime Halloween bash alongside his friends, Fang, Frank, and Boo, but their presence at the beach is not well-received by the adults there. Not ready for tricks and treats, the parents are stuck on the idea that Halloween is a fall holiday only, but their children welcome a hot beachside holiday full of candy and fun. After an uncomfortable day of kite flying and sand burials for Drac and his friends, the sun starts to set and the adults begin to loosen up, setting the scene for a slightly spooky moonlit party. Digitally created images depicting a sunny day at the beach are saturated in bright colors evoking warm memories of summer and bring life to the scenes and interesting cast of characters. The rhyming text of the story gives the book a happy singsong feel, making it easy to enjoy. VERDICT This book is recommended for all collections.--Misty Schattle

Grown-ups are the real monsters in this beachy picture book. Several families are taking in the sun and waves when a youngster spies a vampire incongruously grilling mummy-shaped weenies with some monster pals. The creatures are friendly and inviting, but the adults behave frightfully, instructing the monsters to "get off of our beach" and threatening them ("Don't come back till it's autumn! / Or we'll give you sandal-shaped marks on your bottom!"). Drac is unfazed, delighting the children with candy, carving watermelons into jack-o'-lanterns, and building haunted sand castles. This Halloween whimsy riles the adults, who by now are actively harassing the monsters--burying Frankenstein's monster in the sand and hurling sticks at the others. As the sun goes down, the monsters, who've mostly ignored the attacks, crank some tunes that even the grown-ups can't resist, and all agree that they should "celebrate Halloween twice every year!" A last-minute visit from Santa is a bridge too far for monsters and humans alike, but they allow the Christmas crew to enjoy the beach. Setting aside the obvious violation of vampire lore (doesn't sunlight turn Dracula to dust?) and the unkind behavior from the adults, this book is a treat. A charming cadence makes it a fun read-aloud, and kids will delight in the cartoony pictures depicting such silliness as Frankenstein's monster clad in a Hawaiian shirt. The human beachgoers are diverse. Spooky summertime fun--especially satisfying for those who wish every day could be Halloween.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.