When a vampire bat bites a giraffe with a sweet tooth-after all, his species has -the longest, the strongest,/ the best necks in sight- -the results aren-t exactly suave. The newly dubbed Giracula-s fangs are adorably petite, his -black, silken cloak- is clearly designed for someone much shorter, and flying poses its own inelegant problems. Most notable, however, is what Giracula now craves: not blood, like a classic vampire, but sweets. His obsession with the town bakery-he can-t resist breaking in and tearing through its stock-is resolved when a young pastry enthusiast becomes his confidante and personal baker. The ending feels abrupt, and Watkins-s rhymes lack zip, but Tuchman draws the gangly protagonist with a googly eyed energy that should amuse readers through the numerous sugar-driven scrapes. Ages 3-7. (Aug.)

PreS-Gr 2 - Giracula is a portmanteau that is so fun to say aloud, it's almost worth purchasing the book for the title alone. When a giraffe is bitten by a vampire bat, he wakes up with fangs, a cloak, and a curious craving for the red stuffcherry pie. Watkins tells Giracula's story in rhyming text, a ballad giving the origin story of this mythical giraffe/vampire hybrid. Some of the rhymes are a stretch, like "disheartened" with "ice cream carton." The rhythm is relatively consistent, but there are a few clunkers that trip up the tongue. The banana-yellow character of Giracula has an appealing look. Bold lines, pointy ears, and googily eyes make for a lovable cartoon creature who craves sweets instead of blood. Tuchman's people are less inspired, although he does depict a diverse range of human characters. Background compositions are scattershot, lacking the cohesive vision of the title character. Some are detailed while others are composed of only a solid color. Odd little details, like a lion operating a remote-controlled drone, add whimsical charm, but objects and environments often look different from one page to the next, leaving the fanged hero without a solid sense of place. It's also unclear how he can go out in the sun, and why he craves sugar instead of blood. VERDICT Rough around the edges, but possibly appealing to fans of giraffes, vampires, or protagonists with a sweet tooth.-Chance Lee Joyner, Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, NH