Review by Booklist Review
Fang Vladimir Bloodgood the Third has never been quite like other vampires. He likes colorful clothes and doesn't give a fig about the Vampminster Bat Show. He also can't stomach the idea of another family trip to Transylvania, so he sets about trying to convince his parents to take a beach vacation instead. He pulls out all the stops, choosing an underwater-adventure film for movie night, putting on a swimwear fashion show with his siblings, and turning the living room into a sandy beach--all to no avail. Finally, poor Fang breaks down and sobs, "I'll n-n-never feel the salty ocean breeze in my h-h-hair!" At last, his parents give in and are surprised to discover how much they enjoy the beach (after the sun goes down, of course). Kids will enjoy the silly premise of a vampire family going to the beach, and Player takes full advantage of the absurdity in his digital illustrations, tucking in nods to the horror genre amid Fang's animated coastal campaign. A fun summer read that nudges readers to try new things.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Young Fang is fed up with the vampire same old same old: when everyone else is wearing black, pale-skinned Fang wears bright colors, including a cape with a Hawaiian shirt print. But Mama and Papa are planning yet "another" family vacation to Transylvania ("We'll tour Dracula's castle, visit the House of No Mirrors, dine at a five-star blood bank," says Papa), and Fang is determined to change their minds. A persuasion campaign begins in favor of a beach vacation, giving Player (Not Enough Lollipops) opportunity for some animation-style digital cartooning: Fang enlists his largely fantastically hued siblings in a beach fashion show and turns Papa's Man Cave into an approximation of a beach using a wading pool, graveyard dirt, and a pet bat powdered white to resemble a seagull. But while Mama and Papa may be stuck in a vampire rut, Lavoie, making her debut, makes it clear that they're not monsters at heart; they see how much the beach means to their son, and a few pages later, Fang is predictably hanging ten on a coffin-shaped surf board. The characters may be undead, but this telling is jovially slice-of-life. Ages 3--7. Author's agent: James McGowan, BookEnds. Illustrator's agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (May)
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