Asiago

K-Gr 2—A young vampire enjoys his eccentric life with his great uncle Gouda but experiences a miserable adventure during his first outing to the beach. Everything proves disastrous about his sunny getaway: after his pointy ears turn bright red, he strolls on the boardwalk and devours garlicky clams, returning "with a sunburn, a splinter, and a stomachache" to his gloomy castle to rest (in a coffin). Asiago's thoughtful friends convince him to try the beach at night, and his second trip is sheer delight: he plays his accordion while staring at the Moon, takes to the air as a bat, and enjoys nibbling on mosquitoes. The colored pencil cartoon illustrations provide information needed to understand the story line; the opening page depicts an imposing tombstone with a listing of vampires' fear of the sun, wooden stakes, and garlic. Though his stereotypical accent grates at times-"I'm sure a vooden splinter is the very verst thing for a young vampire"—there's no horror in this picture book. A funny and fresh introduction to one of the most vulnerable vampires ever depicted for a child audience.—Meg Smith, Cumberland County Public Library, Fayetteville, NC