Dear Vampa

Dear Vampa

3.76 of 5 stars 3.76  ·  rating details  ·  111 ratings  ·  47 reviews
The Pires are cursed with new neighbors. Things were just fine on Nostfer Avenue until the Wolfsons arrived. There seems to be no end to the new family's strange rituals. They stay up all day long, lock their windows at night, and bathe--in sunshine. What's a nice vampire family to do?

Ross Collins has created an ironic, laugh-out-loud story that invites you to think about...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published August 25th 2009 by Katherine Tegen Books
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Simone
Author: Ross Collins
Publisher and Date: Katherine Tegan Books, 2009

Summary: Bram, a young vampire, write a letter to his Grandfather about his new neighbors the Wolfsons. The Pire family are not fond of their new neighbors and find them to be quite odd. Perhaps the new neighbors are not as different as Bram suggests they are.

Review: Using supernatural elements of vampires, sleeping in coffins, avoiding daylight and having a monster for a pet, Ross Collins shares a story that is not that far of...more
Koorihime-sama
CHECKED OUT THE BOOK FROM MY PUBLIC LIBRARY.

APART OF THE GOODREADS 2011 READING CHALLENGE.

Review/Rating:

4 out of 5

Ease of Reading Text: 4 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Plot: 5 out of 5


It’s hard to find good neighbors. Though, when the Pires get the Wolfsons as new neighbors, they discover they are as different as day and night. They think the Wolfsons have strange rituals — staying up all day, liking sunshine, and other non-nocturnal activities. What does this Vampire family do in response to...more
Marike
Dear Vampa by Ross Collins

Of course the story uses the current fad with vampires! The story is told in a letter form – little Bram Pire is writing his grandfather a letter about their new neighbours (the Wolfsons). Of course being a vampire is taken for granted, not explained at all – the text is without any supernatural references, we see the Pire family in black and white and the neighbours in colour…
Light fun.
Sarah Souther
Young Bram Pire writes a letter to his Vampa describing the family's troubles with their new neighbors, the Wolfsons. The skinny, black-and-white Pires don't get their vivacious sunbathing neighbors and eventually leave. Too bad. As the full moon comes out, we see that the Pires and the Wolfsons probably would have found they had a lot in common. Younger kids won't get all the visual jokes and vampire/werewolf references, but they'll still have fun. Kindergarten - 2nd grade.
Anne
3.5 stars

A young vampire boy writes a letter to his grandpa about the awful new neighbors who have moved in next door. They like the sun, they stay up all day long, and have all sorts of other weird habits...

A fun read, great illustrations, plus a moral to the story about accepting people who are different from you.
Rakisha
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Shanshad Whelan
Cute and great artwork, but this is definitely a book for older kids who already are familiar with the mythology of vampires. Funny though. I have to say I enjoyed the variation with the Addams-like illustrations in black and white juxtaposed with more colorful/cartoonish sort of drawing.
Elizabeth
This was such a funny book. The illustrations were wonderful and I liked how the story was told in a letter. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 there acceptance of others doesn't truly happen in the end. The humor is more suited for older children; toddlers might not understand the humor.
Caitlin Sabers
A funny and entertaining tale of a vampire family with werewolves as new neighbors, this book is written from a child vampire complaining in letters to his grandfather, Vampa. The two families are very opposite. The werewolves are awake all day, making too much noise for the poor vampires who want to sleep so they can be up all night. Kids love the story and giggle throughout this great read-aloud. This is also really cute to read around Halloween, but connections could be made throughout the ye...more
Scottsdale Public Library
Good neighbors are hard to find! This short picture book chronicles the troubles the Pires, a family of vampires, have with their new neighbors. This clever picture book with a surprise ending is a great pick to share with your little monsters at Halloween. -Erin J.
Andi
A fun little picture book. The illustrations really put this one over the top. The vampire family's black, white, and red illustrations are just gorgeous, and the "normal" family's illustrations are lovely and bright and fun in contrast. Good stuff. Going on my keeper pile.
Samantha Hastings
A funny picture book that will be enjoyed by old children. A vampire family has new "live" neighbors and compares the two families. Quite clever, but I wouldn't use for a storytime becausae most younger kids wouldn't kit the humor.
Youth Services
In this hilarious letter of a picture book, a boy vampire writes to his "Vampa" back in Transylvannia about their new neighbors and how the Pire Family will be moving away because of them. Keep reading for the very funny punchline of the book, while enjoying the little jokes and misunderstandings along the way.

Lisle Library Call #: E COL
Kara
I absolutely loved the dark humor in this book! The pictures and text work together to make this a fun reading experience,and it's great choice to read out loud during story time.
Meghan
Jan 21, 2010 Meghan added it
Shelves: picture
I loved the illustrations and letter to "Vampa" format. I'm not sure if readers will find it as funny as adults. I'll have to test it out on one of my kiddie guinea pigs...
Tom Franklin
a fine example of how a fresh take on a subject and extremely well-done drawings can take a short story (with a predictable ending) and make it enjoyable and memorable.
Jolene
Dec 04, 2009 Jolene rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Pre-1st graders.
Dear Vampa written and illustrated by Ross Collins. A cute story about a family of vampires who must deal with their new sunshine/day loving neighbors.
jessica wilson
delightful! predictable yes but it's a picture book about your average everyday-run-of-the-mill-vampire-family, what else do you expect?
Natalie
A vampire family clashes with their new neighbors

"They have a bizarre fondness for sunshine. Mom says it's disgusting."
Burbank Library Children's Department
A silly, fun picture book about what happens when "normal" family, The Wolfsons, moves in next to the Pires.
*Glamazon*
Really cute story! I even chuckled at the end! I enjoyed the illustrations and the story was adorable.
Jen H.
I can see girls and boys loving this book. Diary/letter style writing with vampires and werewolves.
Cassie
Having new neighbors move in can be an exciting time, and also absolutely terrible if those new neighbors are the complete opposite of your family. Little Bram is writing to his grandpa explaining just what a horrible time they are having getting used to the new people next door. They like sunlight, and flowers, and stay up all day long. The Pires have had it and decide to move back to Transylvania. If they had only waited a bit longer to discover just how much they really do have in common with...more
Lupine
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Natasha
A perfect, hilarious choice for those might want Vampire stories (but nothing too scary).
Danica Midlil
Very cute! I didn't actually see the ending coming. Nice little twist.
Megan
A great picture book for the very young who are interested in Twilight.
Megan
May 11, 2010 Megan added it
Teaching Perspecive, Letter Writing, Colors and Black and White, Moving
Alicia
Derivative and predictable. BUT a great use of color in the illustrations.
Beck
Cute & funny. Nothing particularly surprising, but charming all the same.
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Dear Vampa. Ross Collins (Paperback)
Dear Vampa (Library Binding)
266391
Ross was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1972.
He would eat anything and resembled a currant bun.

As he grew up he was fond of drawing, the Bionic Man and precariously swinging backwards on chairs.

He graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 1994 with a First in Illustration. In the same year he won the MacMillan Children's Book Prize an achievement that opened many doors in the Big Smoke.

Ross then s...more
More about Ross Collins...
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