The Little Vampire Who Lost a Tooth by Elaine Bickell

Little Vampire is ready for a night of biting ... until his tooth falls out! Certain his biting days are over, he turns to his spooky friends for help. Ice cream, toffee, lollipops and soup all offer tasty distractions but none feel quite right. After all, vampires bite. With a little help from the reader, Little Vampire learns that losing a tooth might not be so scary after all.

Author Elaine Bickell writes in a (not so) spooky story in flawless rhyme, exploring something all younger readers experience. It's a fun premise and Bickell captures the emotion and drama that comes with a lost tooth.

Some familiar characters make an appearance to help Little Vampire find something he can eat - with the Little Ghost and Little Witch swooping in to lend a hand. Fans of Bickell will know there's always an element of reader interaction, and Little Vampire will need some help from those turning the pages too.

Illustrator Raymond McGrath's quirky and imaginative artwork brings Little Vampire's world to life. Colour bursts from the page and there is so much detail to explore. McGrath plays with scale and perspective and every page bursts with energy.

A fun and funny book, this is a not-so-scary story about growing up that little readers will enjoy.

Reviewer: Rebekah Fraser

Scholastic