The Girl's Guide to Vampires

Gr 4—8—Keeping the tone light and upbeat, Jones explains in brief the origins, traits, and pop-culture presence of select monsters. References to "The Wizards of Waverly Place," "Twilight," and "Harry Potter" bring the material up to date. Yearbook superlatives ("Cutest [Vampire] Couple") Quizzes ("Which Type of Zombie Are You?") and several color photographs of Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson give the series a definite Seventeen magazine vibe, as does the youthful jargon peppered throughout: BFF, bummer, crush. A manga-style girl with flowing dark hair appears on each cover, flanked by silhouettes of the featured creature. Wide margins with a motif of black curlicues; dozens of clear, colorful photographs; and short paragraphs make each title ripe for browsing. Well-designed, light, fun fare.