Published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Summary:  The Dracula family is heading out for a day at the zoo.  They start at their favorite exhibit, the penguins, where Baby Dracula switches places with a penguin.  The family then continues on their visit, oblivious to the fact that there’s a penguin in the stroller.  While the story is about a routine zoo trip, the illustrations show the penguin eating ice cream and shushing the other animals before they can give his secret away. At the end of the day, while the older family members are distracted buying a balloon, the penguin and Baby Dracula switch places once again, just in time for the drive home.  48 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  Lucy Ruth Cummins’ book Stumpkin is one of my favorites to read at Halloween, and this one makes an excellent companion.  Kids will get a big kick out of the antics of both the baby vampire and the baby penguin, especially since the adults and older kids are so clueless.  Perfect non-spooky Halloween fun.

Cons:  For any kind of scare, I must again defer to Poultrygeist.