Vampire Boy's Good Night

Bela, a vampire with a fanged overbite, and his witch friend, Morgan, set out to look for children on Halloween night, though they aren't sure they exist ("I've heard they like to swing and climb," Bela says). But when they attend a party, they discover that the partygoers are actually children dressed in Halloween costumes. The use of speech balloons adds to the intimacy of Brown's detail-rich scenes, and the absence of parental figures contributes to an exultant mood. The lyrical, understated prose and clever outsider's perspective on the holiday might make this a new seasonal favorite. Ages 3–7. (Aug.)