Manny loses his fangs

PreS-Gr 1--Manny is a young vampire bat whose goal in life is to become the scariest vampire bat in the world. His favorite activity is terrorizing the animals he meets by brandishing his sharp fangs and watching them flee in terror. Imagine his horror when one day he bites into an apple and one of his precious fangs falls out. He retreats to his cave despondent even though his grandfather reassures him that those were baby fangs and new, scarier ones will soon emerge. One day, a stray soccer ball gets kicked into the cave and Manny soon finds himself playing with the very same animals he used to frighten. In a strange twist of fate, when his adult fangs start to come in, Manny is sad instead of elated because he fears he will now lose his new pals. Instead, Manny is able to use his petrifying countenance to protect his chums from some bullies and he learns a valuable lesson about the meaning of friendship. VERDICT With simple straightforward storytelling and adorable soft-focus watercolor artwork, this picture book will find mass appeal with young children navigating friendship and finding their place in the world.--Amy Nolan, St. Joseph Public Library, MI

An anthropomorphic vampire bat learns how to use his scary fangs to help his friends rather than frighten them in this Italian import.Manny the vampire bat wants to be the scariest vampire bat in the world. But after his "baby fangs" fall out, Manny fears "his scaring days [are] over." The silver lining to this is that he is able to make friends with other animals now that he's not so scary anymore. He enjoys having friends so much that, in a reversal, when his adult fangs grow in, he fears losing his new companions. But instead, his scary skills come in handy, and he intimidates some taunting bullies. Ferri's beautifully soft illustrations are a smart contrast to the intensity of a vampire bat, giving Manny just enough ferocity without making him truly terrifying to young readers. The icy blue-gray tones of the cave, along with the rich, warm skies and fields, make even the scenery a character. Despite its animal protagonist, this story is one to which many readers can relate, with its theme of fitting in and finding friends. Manny is quite the likable antihero. The story itself has just the right beat, not dwelling too long or moving too quickly. There is some wonderfully rich vocabulary for the intended audience, too: words such as "trotters," "sulked," and "admiration." The book wraps up nicely with a subtle message of being oneself.Surprisingly charming and with delightful illustrations. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.