Things That Go Bump in the Day

Ordinary sounds seem frightening to little Vampire Vlad in Things that Go Bump in the Day, but explanations and reassurance from his mother have a calming influence. Real-life sounds, like a fire engine, are given monsterly explanations: a clickety-clack sound is just Sirus the Slithery riding his bike, and Gogonk the Ghastly's hernk sound is merely an impatient humph as he waits for his newspaper. As Vlad settles in his coffin for a daytime sleep, he still hears scary sounds and bounds out of bed to seek out his mother. After repeating that "there's nothing at all to fear", Vlad and his mother settle down to sleep in their coffins, only for the sounds of the day to frighten his mother.

Funny and heartwarming, Things that Go Bump in the Day is a new and fresh take on the typical bedtime story, one perfect for Halloween. It will undoubtedly reassure little ones that every strange sound that seems too vivid just as they are about to fall asleep usually has a simple explanation. The heartwarming bond between Vlad and his mother and the humorous misunderstandings that arise from Vlad's fear of everyday sounds will surely warm the hearts of readers. The detailed and clever vampire-themed background illustrations, from a picture of Frankenstein's monster (labelled "Frank," of course) to the "Bite Me" needlepoint, add to the book's charm. The internal scenes carry a sense of great drama, with dark grey-browns, velvety-looking textures, and burgundy purples providing a cozy, dark ambience. The outside scenes depict a bright day full of activities and bustling monsters, with reds, yellows, and blues dominating. A must-purchase for all children's collections.