Vlad, the Fabulous Vampire

July 15, 2023
A vampire struggles with a secret insecurity. Vladislav Varnaby Roland Dragul is proud of his gothic vampire heritage and displays it through his sophisticated black fashions. He has a secret, though: Behind his tall-collared capes, he hides rosy pink cheeks most unbecoming for the undead. As a fashionista, he's able to lean into his hobby to disguise his insecurity but is uncomfortable concealing his truth. Just when he's ready to lead a life of seclusion, his best friend and fellow vampire, Shelley, has a mishap that reveals a shockingly bright physical trait of her own, prompting Vlad to confess his secret. With a newly strengthened friendship, the two venture out of the Dark Woods for Shelley to share another secret. The muted palette transforms as they enter a vibrant town populated by paranormal people who embrace colors (including several people in huge Dia de los Muertos sugar skull costumes). The message of celebrating differences is solid, if heavy-handed; that the text is spare keeps the didacticism from weighing down the story too much. The prose allows the charming, expressive cartoon art free rein in creating a world with a Halloween goth look. Vlad has pale blue skin and a child-friendly, Nosferatu-style look. Shelley has pale green skin. Other background characters run the gamut in skin color. (This book was reviewed digitally.) An affirming, if somewhat moralizing tale of self-acceptance strengthened by a lovable aesthetic. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2023
Drago (Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, rev. 9/20; Leila, the Perfect Witch, rev. 9/22) presents another offbeat, sympathetic, supernatural character overcoming insecurities. Fashionista vampire Vlad, while confident in his sartorial selections, is embarrassed by his rosy, non-vampiric cheeks that "made him look different from everyone else -- so horribly alive." After stumbling on a friend's secret (big pink hair), he's able to appreciate and embrace what makes the two of them -- and others -- unique. The text is lighthearted, and the detail-filled mixed-media illustrations display energy -- and style. Concurrently published in Spanish as Vlad, el vampirito fabuloso. Elissa Gershowitz

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2024
Drago (Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, rev. 9/20; Leila, the Perfect Witch, rev. 9/22) presents another offbeat, sympathetic supernatural character overcoming insecurities. Fashionista vampire Vlad, while confident in his sartorial selections, is embarrassed by his rosy, non-vampiric cheeks that "made him look different from everyone else -- so horribly alive." After stumbling on a friend's secret (big pink hair), he's able to appreciate and embrace what makes the two of them -- and others -- unique. The text is lighthearted, and the detail-filled mixed-media illustrations display energy -- and style. Concurrently published in Spanish as Vlad, el vampirito fabuloso.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)