Bob the Vampire Snail

Something going “THUD!” in the night has turned the once-ordinary snail protagonist of this picture book into a vampire—he gains not only wings but fangs, too: “Bob was fairly certain they were new,” Zuill writes, instantly connecting with many young readers’ appreciation for the absurd. It’s gothic goofiness as Bob—whose googly eyestalks speak volumes—now finds he no longer fits into the snail community. But vampirism has perks: Bob develops spunk, savors bloodred tomatoes, and chugs through the air unleashing an impressive “BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA.” And when he encounters a similarly transformed worm—sporting a mini Dracula cape—the snail fully embraces the creatures’ dual destiny. Bob’s journey from basic gastropod to bat-like Nosferatu, delivered with Mad magazine–worthy laughs, is a work that young readers can sink their teeth into. Ages 4–8. (Aug.)