cover image Zombelina: School Days

Zombelina: School Days

Kristyn Crow, illus. by Molly Idle. Bloomsbury, $16.99 (40p) ISBN 978-1-61963-641-5

Crow and Idle’s dance-loving, undead heroine helps a ghostly new student adjust to the classroom in her third outing. Zombelina can’t wait to show off her best moves during show and tell, but although her routine falls apart (as does her body, with limbs popping off and eyeballs rolling away) she still encourages a nervous Morty to sing his heart out: “He nods and he quivers, then sings out of tune./ It’s awesome! Like werewolves that howl at the moon!” Idle’s balletic, curving lines are put to excellent use in this dance-themed story, which balances its sappier moments with mischievous, gross-out ones. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Kendra Marcus, Bookstop Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (June)