Vlad the fabulous vampire

Flavia Z. Drago, Vlad the fabulous vampire, Candlewick Books, September 2023, 40 pp., RRP $38.75 (hbk), ISBN 9781536233322

This is a tale about self-acceptance, an understanding that to be unique is not a curse but an opportunity to be courageous and embrace how special we are. Vladislav Varnaby Roland Dragul, the fourth of his name, is deeply insecure about his rosy cheeks – what self-respecting vampire wants to look alive and healthy! Lucky for Vlad, he has ‘a passion for fashion’ and busily designs flamboyant outfits that hide the splash of colour on his face. But no ensemble can keep Vlad’s secret forever and with the help of a close friend, he learns that ‘it’s better to love what makes us unique’.

Anyone who has ever felt that they don’t fit in and must hide their true self in order to be accepted will empathise with Vlad. Drago, a New York Times #1 bestseller, taps into this very human desire to be like the flock and creates a story of the journey from secret-keeping loneliness and insecurity to having the courage to love one’s uniqueness. What I appreciated with this theme is the understanding that there will still be times of feeling ‘insecure’ but the friends and loved ones we surround ourselves with can provide the support needed to show resilience in the face of self-doubt.

The cover design of this book is captivating and very difficult to miss with its bright pink on black palette. The illustrations depict a charming world of monsters with flying trolls, vampire covens and smiley-faced ghosts. Vlad himself is cute and enchanting and the extravagant fashions he designs are quite funny.

The language used such as lurking, paranormal, inspiration, sophisticated, splendid, unique and insecure would be wonderful additions to a classroom vocabulary wall. I recommend this book for story time or a year one or two class read where discussions can be had about self-esteem and self-talk.

Reviewed by Katie Mineeff

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