Gibbus Moony Wants to Bite You!

K-Gr 2—A young vampire is anxious to try out his new fangs on all sots of things, even after his family explains that they are nectarians (fruit suckers). Gibbus wants to chew on his toys, a photo album, a violin. But nothing is satisfying. He next tries his sleeping grandfather's ear, but it's a mere tickle. Outside he tries to bite the gardener but is shooed away like a mosquito. Gibbus is frustrated and falls asleep under a tree. He's awakened by something pecking on his nose. It's a little girl. He decides that she and her brother would be a perfect test for his new fangs. He threatens to bite the boy, who convinces him that biting is for babies. They become friends instead and make plans for the next day. The vampire goes home and announces to his family that he's past his biting stage. The illustrations, done in pen, ink with watercolor, and acrylic, are clean and crisp with very little background. They are also potentially confusing. While Gibbus and his family members are all quite pale and sport fangs, he is the only one with bat cape. Despite the fun art and the positive message, some might feel that this title takes the vampire craze a bit too far.—Ieva Bates, Ann Arbor District Library, MI