Vlad the Fabulous Vampire

What worked: I loved this fun picture book with a vampire who loves fashion but fears his 'secret' will have his friends reject him. Vlad loves black and feels fashionable except for one thing--his pink cheeks that he fears will make him appear 'horribly alive.'

Colorful illustrations with a shout-out to Dia de los Muertos. I especially love it when books share part of my own Mexican heritage.

The theme of being true to yourself is shown when Vlad tries to fit in and fears others won't like how he's 'different'. When he finds out his friend Shelley has her own 'secret', he gains the confidence to search for others like them. The illustrations of that place are colorful, insightful, and totally engaging. As a former first-grade bilingual teacher, I would have loved to have shared such a book with my class.

Vlad's discoveries and his passion for fashion are shown throughout this sweet picture book.

Adorable tale of a fashionista vampire who learns to embrace his uniqueness. Totally recommend for elementary school classrooms with its tale of empowerment.

I was first introduced to Flavia Z. Drago's books when I read Gustavo the Shy Ghost in 2020. Gustavo was a lovable character and I was instantly hooked into Gustavo and his friends. Vlad the Fabulous Vampire is the third book in the World of Gustavo and is the perfect addition to the previous books.

As a vampire with rosy pink cheeks and a penchant for the color pink and fashion, Vlad feels out of place. He hides his love of pink to fit in with his fellow vampires until a friend shows him that it's okay to be different.

What I Like: This book has a positive message of loving and accepting who you are and embracing what makes you unique. Flavia Z. Drago has a distinct illustration style that incorporates her Mexican heritage and I especially like her use of color in this story. I was excited to see cameos from the other books in the Gustavo series.

Vlad the Fabulous Vampire is a book that will inspire you to love yourself just the way you are. I can't wait to see if we will get another book in the World of Gustavo.