LITTLE VAMPIRE GOES TO SCHOOL

Designed and illustrated in graphic-novel style, this tongue-in-cheek import features a great array of skeletal ghosts, leering boggles, misshapen monsters—and one young, egg-shaped vampire in search of a friend. Lonely Little Vampire is dismayed to discover that human school isn’t held at night, but sitting at the same empty desk night after night, he soon finds himself exchanging notes with Michael, its daytime occupant. Overcoming the obvious obstacles, the two meet at last; enticed to visit Little Vampire’s old mansion, Michael proves sturdy enough to put aside his initial terrified response to its ooky-spooky, but by and large friendly, residents, and the stage is set for a rosy future. This reads like the opening chapters in a longer tale, but the set pieces and side jokes—“Would you give me your daughter’s hand?” “We lost it. Still got her foot if ya want”—will keep preteen comic-book fans amused. (Picture book. 8-12)