Vampire vs. the Beach: A Funny Halloween Picture Book Read-Aloud for Kids Ages 4-8

Festive Feuds

by Todd Tarpley, Giovanni Abeille (illustrator)

Get ready for the fight of the season in Festive Feuds, a rollicking picture book series featuring beloved and iconic characters competing to see who will come out on top. In this sun-soaked showdown, a crew of Halloween monsters crashes summer vacation with spooky beach antics, serving up a “Summerween” to remember—perfect for fans of Leprechaun vs. Easter Bunny and Turkey vs. Santa!

A vampire and his monster friends are excited to have some fun in the sun—but they're thwarted by beachgoers who insist that Halloween belongs in the fall! The spooky friends do their best to turn everyone’s summer festivities into a monster mash, but the feuding between fans of Halloween and fans of summertime soon reaches a boiling point. Can the groups find a way to have double the fun? A Summerween party might be the perfect solution!

Read all the books in the Festive Feuds
Leprechaun vs. Easter Bunny
Turkey vs. Santa
​Vampire vs. the Beach
Groundhog vs. Cupid

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Summer, Childrens, Storytime, Holiday, Vampires

32 pages, Hardcover

Published June 3, 2025

Reviews

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun read for summer beach and Halloween fans.

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling all Summerween fans! This is a book you’ll definitely want to add to your kids’ rotation. The simple rhyming sentence structure made the story easy to follow. The kids also loved seeing the combination of favorite summer beach elements with Halloween. The artwork is where this book really shines, though. The illustrations are spot on and so vibrant. We loved looking at all the details and elements that were captured.

[Alison N · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vampire and his Halloween pals try to get some creepy fun going at a beach, much to the adults dismay who are happy to remind the newcomers that Halloween belongs in fall, not summer. But a new summer holiday may be in order in this fun, funny rhyming picture book. Grab it and celebrate Summerween with the whole family

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the height of summer: no one wants to see spooks on the beach. The parents argue, the vampire makes a logical rebuff. Why not have Halloween in summer too?

I adore this book. It has delightful rhymes and does a wonderful job presenting logical arguments. The illustrations are funny, and the ending has a humorous twist.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rhyming text, meh for illustrations
Maybe a bit didactic and mean when the adults want to chase Halloween characters Drac & friends off the beach and tell them to wait, can’t celebrate Halloween in summer. Eventually the adults change their minds and have a big beach party. Kinda surprise ending.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cheesy, but fun for the summerween fans.

[Lauren M · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book feels like its only purpose is to highlight the ongoing 'Summerween' fad.

It's an okay book, a silly romp to check out from your local library during the late summer months.

[Michele Padua · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect Summerween read! 👻

[Alyssa Mandell · Rating 4 out of 5]

A funny rhyming story about having Halloween in the summer on the beach. Would make a good summer or Halloween read aloud book.