Jampires

When Sam%E2%80%99s doughnut is left %E2%80%9Cwrinkly and dry,%E2%80%9D completely drained of its filling, who could be to blame? Two suspicious fangmarks are the only clue. Sam won%E2%80%99t stand for this kind of insult, so he %E2%80%9Cset a trap before going to bed/ and used his dry doughnut as bait./ In place of the jam he used ketchup instead,/ then hid under the covers to wait.%E2%80%9D His laundry-basket trap nabs two pale %E2%80%9Cjampires%E2%80%9D with enormous round eyes, pointy-eared hoods, and lips red with jam (or, at the moment, ketchup). Though jam and blood look a lot alike, McIntyre and O%E2%80%99Connell play this story for laughs%E2%80%94there%E2%80%99s never a moment of concern that the jampires might turn their fangs on Sam. Instead, they apologize profusely (they simply wandered too far from home and got hungry) and take the boy on a whirlwind tour of the Candyland-like %E2%80%9Cland of the Jampires,%E2%80%9D which is filled with mountainous desserts and layer-cake cities, as well as cookies, macarons, and other goodies. Galloping verse and cartoons dusted with humor and magic add up to a light, dessert-themed mystery that%E2%80%99s both silly and sweet. Ages 3%E2%80%935. (June)