Vampire vs. the Beach: A ­Summer Halloween Story

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.