The Sleepless Little Vampire

PreS-Gr 1—The first picture, framed with cobwebs and twigs set on a plain black background, shows the title character sitting on a bed, holding a Frankenstein doll. "Why can't I sleep? What could it be? Is it…." On the next page, the text continues, "the spider spitting? THOOP!—THOOP!" The accompanying picture, in a slightly larger frame, depicts the vampire staring at a yellow and blue spider. In this cumulative tale, a few flitting (and flapping) bats soon make an appearance, followed by a werewolf, skeletons, ghosts, and several other scary creatures of the night. The book closes on a satisfying note, with everyone safe and sound. Egielski's watercolor/ink paintings are superbly executed, with strong colors and bold, expressive lines. They show off the artist's eccentric sensibility and abound with whimsical details, making this book perfect for the close examination that comes with one-on-one sharing. Meanwhile, listeners will want to chime in on the many sound effects, which are great for library storytimes. Even preschoolers can get in on the vampire craze with this fun offering.—Lauralyn Persson, Wilmette Public Library, IL