Dracula vs. Grampa at the Monster Truck Spectacular by Kirk Scroggs

Another Review at MyShelf.Com

Dracula vs. Grampa at the Monster Truck Spectacular
Wiley & Grampa’s Creature Features, Number 1

Text and illustrations by Kirk Scroggs

This new graphic chapter book series, Wiley & Grampa’s Creature Features, has a blurb across the cover by Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants. There’s a good reason for that. Wiley & Grampa’s Creature Features bear a strong resemblance to Captain Underpants: both have storylines based more on sight-gags than plots, both never met a joke too gross to slip in, and both are a sure winner with reluctant reading boys. In Dracula vs. Grampa, it’s Halloween and a killer storm is on the way - so naturally Wiley and Grampa head off to a monster truck rally. Only at this rally, the trucks are real monsters. They meet Dracula (an aging Romanian redneck) and have to use their brains... um, cleverness... um, dumb luck to escape becoming involuntary blood donors. Some of the jokes went well over the head of my 6-year-old, but if you have a preteen boy that you’re trying to wean away from television cartoons - these just might be the books for the job. At the very least, they’ll get a giggle or two.

The Book

Little, Brown

July 2006

Hardcover

0316059021

Children’s Fiction [Ages 4-8]

More at Amazon.com

Excerpt

NOTE:

The Reviewer

Jan Fields

Reviewed 2006

NOTE: Reviewer Jan Fields is the editor of Kid Magazine Writers emagazine and has written dozens of stories and articles for the children's magazine market.