Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-A young vampire enjoys his eccentric life with his great uncle Gouda but experiences a miserable adventure during his first outing to the beach. Everything proves disastrous about his sunny getaway: after his pointy ears turn bright red, he strolls on the boardwalk and devours garlicky clams, returning "with a sunburn, a splinter, and a stomachache" to his gloomy castle to rest (in a coffin). Asiago's thoughtful friends convince him to try the beach at night, and his second trip is sheer delight: he plays his accordion while staring at the Moon, takes to the air as a bat, and enjoys nibbling on mosquitoes. The colored pencil cartoon illustrations provide information needed to understand the story line; the opening page depicts an imposing tombstone with a listing of vampires' fear of the sun, wooden stakes, and garlic. Though his stereotypical accent grates at times-"I'm sure a vooden splinter is the very verst thing for a young vampire"-there's no horror in this picture book. A funny and fresh introduction to one of the most vulnerable vampires ever depicted for a child audience.-Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Young vampire Asiago is excited for a trip to the beach, but he's sadly misinformed about what that might entail. Several mishaps (sunburn, a splinter, garlicky baked clams) lead Asiago to reluctantly conclude that a beach day is a bad idea for him; then his pals plan a nighttime visit. Plenty of vampire-centric gags in the text and cartoony colored-pencil illustrations bolster the slight story. (c) Copyright 2012. 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
How can the little vampire enjoy the beach with his friends? Asiago lives in a castle with his great-uncle Gouda. He likes to play his accordion and swing from a rope, and at night he turns into a bat. When his friend Wendy calls to invite him to the beach, he really isn't sure what a beach is. But he finds an old bathing suit (with cool purple stripes) and is ready to go. Asiago's fun is short-lived: He turns bright red in the sizzling sun, which even sets his ears to smoking. Wendy rescues him with her beach umbrella, but he can't really play, and he gets a splinter from the dock (almost as dangerous as a stake) and a stomach ache from the clams she gives him to eat (all he really likes is garlic). At home, Asiago can't help thinking about his not-so-great day at the beach. Wendy and his other friends save the day with a great idea; they surprise Asiago in his coffin and return with him to the beach... at night. McHeffey's clean colored-pencil illustrations add style and mirth to his simple tale of friendship. His characterization and plotting, however, leave something to be desired. Adults will wonder why these vampires are named for cheeses, and children will wonder how the nocturnal vampire managed to make human friends? Goodhearted, if silly. (Picture book. 3-5)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
