Little Vampire Goes to School
Little Vampire has decided that despite his ability to fly, freedom  to turn himself into a rat, a wolf, or a bat--even his unquestioned right to  "bite little girls till they bleed, without ever getting into trouble"--that  what he really wants to do is go to school. The kind with teachers, other  kids, and math homework. Unfortunately for Little Vampire, teachers and  other kids don’t hang out at school in the dead of night, but math homework  abounds, and when Little Vampire starts completing a little boy’s  assignments for him, the two get to be friends.Little Vampire Goes to Schoolsounds like it should be a Halloween  book for 5-year-olds, but with its comic-book illustrations, occasional  toilet humor, and rambling story that touches on everything from the legend  of the Flying Dutchman to whether an orphaned child ought to believe in God,  it’s probably more appropriate for 8- to 10-year-olds. Joann Sfar’s  illustrations are an interesting mix of creepy and cartoony comic-book  styles, and the motley assortment of monsters who live in Little Vampire’s  castle provide plenty of background chatter and jokes. This book is just  right for a kid who likes monsters but doesn’t actually want to be scared. (Ages 6 to 10)--Jennifer Lindsay