Glory on ice A vampire hockey story

PreS-Gr 2--This unexpectedly delightful yarn combines vampires, hockey, and teamwork in a uniquely effective fashion. Vampire Vlad's 800-year existence has become dull, so he visits the local community center (umbrella shading his blue-tinged face) to find a new activity. After sampling several activities, he overhears some children saying they will "crush" and "destroy" their hockey opponents, and instantly registers. He buys gear and learns about hockey, but upon arrival discovers becoming a hockey player is a lot of work. Nevertheless he forges on, becomes a passable (and aggressive) player and full member of the team, filling him with true happiness. The story is tongue-in-cheek, with clever nods to his vampiric nature (the store-clerk who gives him "prompt" service is clearly terrified) and the writing is tight, well-paced, and humorous. Impressively, messages about hard work, teamwork, and friendship are woven into the story without ever feeling didactic, perhaps due to the absurd premise. The cartoon-style artwork is entertaining, mixing full-bleed spreads with spot art to create effective page turns and visual storytelling. Fearing inserts clever details such as cameos from Vlad's expressive cat and an iPhone photo in which only Vlad's gear appears. Vlad's team is portrayed as multicultural, including several skin tones and a girl with a red ponytail, although their opponents (who do win) are all large and white. VERDICT Libraries in need of vampire books and/or hockey books need look no further than this briskly funny offering that effectively tucks a lesson under its helmet.--Amy Lilien-Harper, Wilton Lib., CT

Vlad's search for relief from boredom has him signing up for ice hockey. With his batwing cape, gray pallor, and pointy ears, nose, and teeth (not to mention the pronounced widow's peak), Vlad looks comically menacing in the Count Dracula style. Hearing a group of children planning to "pound," "crush," and "destroy" their opponents is what first attracts Vlad to the idea, after he ventures from his mist-shrouded castle to the local community center. Vlad (with the "best hockey equipment that treasure plundered from ancient gravesites could buy") falls in love with the sport, watches hockey videos, dreams of playing in the Olympics for Team Transylvania, and works to learn how to skate, pass, and shoot. People--like the salesperson at the hockey store--seem to react with some trepidation around Vlad, but his kid teammates (never named but diverse in racial presentation and including at least one who presents as a girl) are supportive and unperturbed, and a teammate's mom helps him with his skates before practice. Vignettes of game play show Vlad in an enforcer role, elbowing his opponent in the head and shouting from the penalty box as an opposing player trips one of Vlad's teammates. Though his team loses 57-0, it's clear that Vlad has "come to love hockey even more than he loved chasing after terrified mortals." (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 38.8% of actual size.) Light, acceptably silly fare for preschool fans of hockey and vampires. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.