The Little Vampire Who Lost a Tooth product reviews

For small children, Hallowe'en can be either a fun time or a scary one. Much depends on how the adults in the children's lives deal with it. This book bridges that gap between scary and fun, providing a way for little ones to make sense of the festival without being afraid to go to sleep in case a vampire gets them! Even the cover reflects the fun aspect, with its quirky vampire bats fitting about while Little Vampire shows off the place where his tooth used to be.

The foods suggested by Little Vampire's friends while he is working out what he can manage to eat are worth noting. All except the pumpkin soup are junk food! This offers a perfect opportunity for a chat about which foods are suitable for promoting healthy teeth. Children cannot learn too young about making wise choices. There could also be discussion about brushing teeth, whether milk teeth or the permanent ones, to ensure they stay sound. If the child is old enough, this could lead to further exploration of how vampire bats use their fangs and how they too keep them healthy.

Miss Three loved the story. It was pitched at exactly the right age for her, and she was able to relate to it since it coincided with Hallowe'en decorations being put up in her town. She was also able to talk about what will happen when her own baby teeth start to fall out and be replaced by a permanent set. There is no harm in being prepared!

The text is in rhymed format, making it easy for a child to join in after several readings. The pictures are perfect, just sufficiently scary to cause a little shiver, but not enough to be frightening. Miss Three loved the illustrations and was soon able to pick up the book and "read" it on her own. The part where little Vampire shows Little Ghost the tooth and reveals the gap in his mouth is quite sweet: all the vampire bats surround them both, supporting their friend.

One by one, the friends offer Little Vampire food that he can manage. Little Witch arrives after Little Ghost, followed by Little Mummy, and then Little Pumpkin. Little Vampire's friends all want to help him, but none of them thinks to mention that a new grown-up tooth will soon grow anyway. That is left for the Reader to suggest. Meanwhile, Little Vampire is happy to enjoy the other foods that his friends think are suitable. That is fine in the short term, of course, as long as he still remembers to brush the rest of his teeth!