The Vampire Chapter

by Michael Dahl Narrated by Various Narrators

Overview

Someone, or something, is draining all the books of their ink.

Editorial Reviews

Children's Literature - Sharon Oliver

Vampires are the subject of this tale from Dahl's "Return to the Library of Doom " series. Ink Vampires, to be precise. Young Harry notices that his book has strange teeth marks in it and all the words have been somehow removed from the book. He and his pal Jon head to the library to seek the advice of his favorite librarian only to find Mrs. Rook has been out sick, replaced by a Mr. Turner, who only works at night. The boys find themselves in grave trouble after following an ink trail from the library to a cemetery just in time to witness the rise of the menacing vampire. Saved in the nick of time by the Librarian of Doom and a pair of silver scissors Harry's book has its words returned and we await the next chapter. An absolute must for any library serving any child who has ever asked for a scary story, this series and the original "Library of Doom" series are a wonderful introduction to chapter books that are just scary enough for the young reader. Kendall's ink illustrations in subdued tones and the occasional irregular font add to the visual appeal of the book and the small size increases the appeal for reluctant readers. Included are a glossary, character profiles, discussion questions and writing prompts, which increases their usability in the classroom. Reviewer: Sharon Oliver

School Library Journal

Gr 3–5—Follow-ups to the "Library of Doom" series, these brief, fast-paced titles are good for a mild spook. There are dangerous books out there, and the mysterious Librarian keeps them from falling into the wrong hands. In The Book That Ate My Brother, siblings Tyler and Jack are consumed by an evil book with an appetite for humans. It's up to the Librarian and his sidekick, the Specialist, to intervene and prevent the boys from death by digestion. In The Vampire Chapter, Harry and Jon look into a mystery surrounding a vampire book checked out from the library, only to find the real thing. Luckily, the Librarian is on the case as well, rescuing the boys and retrieving his book in the process. The dialogue, basic and straightforward, only serves to move the plot ahead, resulting in flat characters. The books are created to look like old tomes, with smudged yellowed pages and torn corners. Irregular fonts are used to emphasize key words. Inky, comics-inspired artwork appears frequently, breaking up the texts. Back matter includes discussion questions and writing prompts, which adds usefulness in a classroom setting. Entertaining, if unremarkable, fare for readers finished with Alvin Schwartz's "Scary Stories" (HarperCollins).—Travis Jonker, Dorr Elementary School, MI

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172554551
Publisher:	Capstone Press
Publication date:	03/01/2013
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	10 - 13 Years

Related Subjects

• Kids
• Fiction & Literature - Kids
• Games & Activities - Kids Fiction

Videos