Fang Vladimir Bloodgood the Third has never been quite like other vampires. He likes colorful clothes and doesn't give a fig about the Vampminster Bat Show. He also can't stomach the idea of another family trip to Transylvania, so he sets about trying to convince his parents to take a beach vacation instead. He pulls out all the stops, choosing an underwater-adventure film for movie night, putting on a swimwear fashion show with his siblings, and turning the living room into a sandy beach--all to no avail. Finally, poor Fang breaks down and sobs, "I'll n-n-never feel the salty ocean breeze in my h-h-hair!" At last, his parents give in and are surprised to discover how much they enjoy the beach (after the sun goes down, of course). Kids will enjoy the silly premise of a vampire family going to the beach, and Player takes full advantage of the absurdity in his digital illustrations, tucking in nods to the horror genre amid Fang's animated coastal campaign. A fun summer read that nudges readers to try new things.

Young Fang is fed up with the vampire same old same old: when everyone else is wearing black, pale-skinned Fang wears bright colors, including a cape with a Hawaiian shirt print. But Mama and Papa are planning yet "another" family vacation to Transylvania ("We'll tour Dracula's castle, visit the House of No Mirrors, dine at a five-star blood bank," says Papa), and Fang is determined to change their minds. A persuasion campaign begins in favor of a beach vacation, giving Player (Not Enough Lollipops) opportunity for some animation-style digital cartooning: Fang enlists his largely fantastically hued siblings in a beach fashion show and turns Papa's Man Cave into an approximation of a beach using a wading pool, graveyard dirt, and a pet bat powdered white to resemble a seagull. But while Mama and Papa may be stuck in a vampire rut, Lavoie, making her debut, makes it clear that they're not monsters at heart; they see how much the beach means to their son, and a few pages later, Fang is predictably hanging ten on a coffin-shaped surf board. The characters may be undead, but this telling is jovially slice-of-life. Ages 3--7. Author's agent: James McGowan, BookEnds. Illustrator's agent: Lori Nowicki, Painted Words. (May)