1 Little, 2 Little 3 Little Dracula: Little Master Stoker's Dracula

I've gotta fat article brewing for this week, so today is a cute lil romp through a classic Halloween favorite: Dracula. I've read Bram Stoker's novel, and I gotta say, a work of art, but its not for those looking to just breeze through on an afternoon (unless you speed-read Tolstoy). But if you're a vampire or horror fan with little ones, its not exactly something you read to the kiddies of the night before bed.

Solution? Jennifer Adams' counting primer Little Master Stoker's Dracula, with art by Alison Oliver.

Published by BabyLit, this book joins others from the publisher as "a fashionable way to introduce your child to the world of classic literature". Their catalogue includes works like Sherlock Holmes, Pride and Prejudice, Moby Dick, and Anna Karininininina, so hang onto your lit classes, this is a hip way to get into those stodgy old works without cheating on Cliffsnotes or sleeping through a college lit class.

I initially caught sight of this lil primer when browsing Michael's for materials for jewelry and an air compressor for us to paint minis (and of course paintings like my hero Naoko Takeuchi). Its one of two books I bought for the countdown, both being children's' books.

What caught my eye was the bold and striking colors in the art. Oliver's art is distinct in its bold and vivid colors as well as the simple but perfect shapes that compromise the illustrations. She's perfect for logo work as well as children's book illustrations, and this book shows it. Its rare to associate Stoker's Dracula with cute, but I couldn't have asked for a better combo.

Except maybe sea salt and caramel. Yum.

Instead of summarizing the story down to even the most basic of summaries (not that one could in a board book for children, what with the sex and the biting and the kids with the hull a hoops and I dunno what---oh wait), the book literally is a counting primer, a book used to teach kids basic notions like counting or the alphabet. That said, its not without depth.

I mean, seriously, how many Dracula movies and works include all these swank-ass mofos? We all know our Van Helsings and our Harkers, but dude, Quincey and Arthur are pretty awesome too. About time we get these other guys out in a movie, huh? Maybe action-adventure miniseries on HBO?

I digress. The counting through the book is somewhat linear to the narrative of the novel, but doesn't adhere strictly, and you'll be counting like Sesame Street's eponymous Count to the end of the book (which of course ends at 10 so as not to be too long). Demeter and the other ships, coffins, wolves and rats, all portrayed in a Mary Blair-esque liveliness that will make you strongly crave halloween Peeps (™).

If you're looking for a cute and spooky book for the halloween season for the kiddies, don't pass this up. Highly recommended for parents of wee ones and Dracula fans alike.

--Dio (10/5/14)