Buffy the Vampire Slayer

by Jason Rekulak, Kim Smith (Illustrator)

The cult classic ’90s TV show is now a charming book for the youngest fans in the Buffyverse!

In this new picture book story brought to life with enchanting, colorful illustrations, kid readers can learn about what the world’s strongest vampire slayer was like when she was a kid! What’s that strange sound coming from inside the closet? Join little Buffy, Xander, and Willow as they investigate bumps in the night, seek advice from their school librarian Giles, and encounter all your favorite Buffyverse monsters. Complete with gorgeous illustrations by Pop Classics artist Kim Smith, this sweet, silly, and not-so-scary book makes a perfect bedtime story.

Series Overview: The films and TV shows that families love are reimagined as lively, colorful picture books featuring the iconic moments and characters of the original. Simple words are paired with a kid-friendly storybook format that’s perfect for bedtime or storytime, plus all-new illustrations done in classic picture book style to make this series a great way for parents to share their pop culture favorites with a new generation. Though the movie and TV versions came first, you’ll wonder if they weren’t adaptations of these books, instead of the other way around!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fantasy, Vampires, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Paranormal, Fiction

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2015

About the author

I'm the author of four novels: THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS (2017), HIDDEN PICTURES (2022), THE LAST ONE AT THE WEDDING (2024) and (coming in October 2026!) LOOK WHAT THE CAT DRAGGED IN. For many years I was Publisher of Quirk Books, an indie press headquartered in Philadelphia, where I ghost-wrote many odd books that may or may not surface on this page, depending on the metadata. I live in West Philly with my wife and children.

Reviews

[Ken]

These Pop Classics are clearly aimed for parents wanting a slice of nostalgia whilst reading to their children.

This is another fun cute entry using the characters from the hit 90's show Buffy.
I'm not really sure that a young audience will get anything from this one as it's more pitched at aficionados of the series.

The illustrations are great though and Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles and even Joyce likeness is brilliantly captured.
Whilst there's a nice suprise for those that know the show inside out.

[Jim C]

This book is part of a collection of books that visit a beloved television show or movie and serves as an introduction to a new generation. This book is not canon as we visit Buffy as an eight year child who is afraid of the monster in her closet. She enlists Willow and Xander for help.

Really cute. Those are the two words I would use to describe this book. This book is intended for a parent who loves the show and provides them with an introduction for their child. It will give their child an idea (not a totally accurate one) of what it is about. You don't need to be a parent to enjoy this book though. Devout fans of the show will squeal in delight at some of the pictures. You cannot help it when you see a young Willow dancing with a werewolf who has a guitar. A nice reference to Oz. This book is fill with these types of references that will make fans happy.

Obviously this book isn't meant for adults. That being said I liked it for what it is. If you go into this book expecting a serious novel then you will be disappointed. If you go into this with an open mind and you are a fan of the show it will put a smile on your face.

[Sarah]

I'm a huge Buffy fan and have watched the series several times over the years so of course when I was offered a copy of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer Picture Book I couldn't resist. This really is the cutest little picture book and it's a great way to introduce another new generation to a series so many adults already love.

The story doesn't stick strictly to cannon which is absolutely fine in my opinion, it wouldn't exactly be child friendly if it did now would it! What it does is take us back in time to meet a young eight year old Buffy who is afraid of the dark, we get to see younger versions of Willow and Xander too and even Giles puts in an appearance which should thrill fans of the series.

I'm not going to say much more so I'll just end this review with a couple of pictures but I'm sure Buffy fans will love this and I can't wait to read it to my nephew when he's just a tiny bit older!

[Novelesque Life]

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
Based on the series created by Joss Whedon
Illustrated by Kim Smith
2018; Quirk Books (40 Pages)
Genre: children’s, picture book, paranormal

RATING: 4 STARS

I am a HUGE fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series. I have seen all the seasons a few times through, and even have some of the novelizations. Buffy was everything I loved as a teen – sarcasm, cute guys, paranormal/supernatural, strong women and teen angst – that just kind grew up with me. I was about the same age as Buffy when the show cam on so I could really relate. I know if I ever have a daughter this is a series I hope that I can share with her. Now with this book, I could introduce her to the Scooby gang much sooner. I like Smith’s illustrations, they fit with how I would imagine a children’s animation would be like. This is a must-have for all Buffy fans, and this is on my wish-list.

My Novelesque Blog

[Carrie]

Too cute

[Angela]

The pictures are great, but this book is a disaster. It's obviously designed for Buffy fans to purchase for tiny kids that they know, but fans will not find anything familiar except the character and place names (and depictions of the actors). Franchise or not, some stories aren't meant for preschool-aged kids: it's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, not Buffy the Demon Soother. gah.

[Christy]

This non-scary picture book is a cute addition to the world of Buffy. It’s the perfect way to introduce the next generation to a kickass character. The creative team even made The Gentlemen adorable! I loved the story and the art - highly recommend the the little (or big!) Buffy fan in your life!

[Ivonne]

Als jahrelanger und riesengroßer Buffy Fan könnt ihr auch sicherlich vorstellen, welche Freudensprünge ich gemacht habe, als ich dieses Schmuckstück hier in einer Buchhandlung in New York entdeckt habe. Ich wusste tatsächlich nicht, dass es existiert, doch das tut es: ein Buffy Bilderbuch für Kinder.

Natürlich habe ich das Buch gleich verschlungen und in einem Rutsch durchgelesen, was keine große Leistung war, da nur sehr wenig Text, dafür aber unfassbar schöne Illustrationen vorhanden sind.

Dieses Buch erzählt die Geschichte der jungen Buffy; eines achtjährigen Mädchens, das sich, ebenso wie wir alle, irgendwann mal vor dem Monster in ihrem Schrank gefürchtet hat. In diesem wunderschön gestalteten Bilderbuch geht es um die Kinderversionen von Buffy, Willow und Xander, wie sie sich zum ersten Mal ihren Ängsten stellen und das vermeintlich Böse bekämpfen - natürlich mit Hilfe ihres Schulbibliothekars Giles.

Ob dieses Buch nicht gruselig und somit überhaupt für Kinder geeignet ist? Absolut. Dieses Buch ist eben nicht gruselig, sondern macht Mut. Nicht nur ist unsere Protagonistin ein junges Mädchen, sondern vermittelt das Buch die Botschaft, dass etwas, was im ersten Moment vielleicht unheimlich oder gruselig erscheint, gar nicht so angsteinflößend sein muss, wie man anfangs dachte. Und ebenfalls zeigt es auf, dass man, auch wenn man klein ist, ganz großen Mut haben kann.

Jetzt dient Buffy nicht nur uns Erwachsenen und Jugendlichen als Vorbild, sondern auch den Kleinsten unter uns und das ganz ohne Gruselfaktor.

Für mich als großer Buffy Fan war dieses Buch ein absolutes Muss, trotz dessen dass es "nur" ein Bilderbuch ist, doch alleine wegen der Illustrationen lohnt es sich schon, dieses wunderschöne Büchlein zu kaufen.

[orangerful]

This is really made for the fans. Smith puts a lot of love into these illustrations and if you know the show it is a lot of fun. If you've never seen the show and you're a little kid, you might also by amused by the girl who fights the monsters in her closet.

[TJ, the Librarian.]

Soooo cute! I have a new favorite storybook! 5/5 stars!

[Mena]

nvm tteise i got this one

[Dani]

The cutest picture book I've read in a while!

[Samantha]

I cannot emphasize enough how effing cute this book is.

[Hayley (Gory B Movie)]

I've had this for a while and only just now sat down to read it. Buffy fans will love the references to the show. I like that 8-year-old Buffy had her Mr. Gordo and had a Dorothy Hamill poster up on her wall. Kids will love the bright illustrations and theme of facing one's fears.

A must-buy for Buffy fans!

[Jackie Law]

Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series premiered in 1997 and has remained popular ever since. I came to it late and am still working my way through the DVD box set. It is my go to show when I need some light entertainment because watching a group of young people fighting the vampires, demons and forces of darkness that roam their neighbourhood gives me hope, even when it does get a bit silly. Our real world is full of forces of darkness in human form and maybe they too can be defeated by those brave enough to stand up to them.

While Buffy may remain popular with adults and young adults, the themes and depictions in the TV series may prove too scary and at times risqué for younger viewers. This picture book, then, provides an introduction to characters children may have heard of but not yet got to know.

In the story Buffy is eight years old and attending Sunnydale Elementary School, something purists may object to but let’s go with it anyway – continuity hasn’t always been adhered to within the wider Buffyverse. Giles is the school librarian. Willow and Xander are Buffy’s best friends.

Readers are introduced to Buffy the Vampire Slayer and told that before she knew she was the Chosen One of her generation, a slayer, Buffy was afraid of the dark.

At bedtime, after her mom turns out the light, young Buffy hears scratches and thumps coming from her closet. She decides to invite Willow and Xander over for a sleepover, but none of them are brave enough to open the closet door.

The next day they go to Giles for advice. He tells Buffy that she must appear brave even when she doesn’t feel it. She must face her fears.

The three friends, acting in character with the young adults developed in the TV series, enter the closet after dark. What they learn is that kindness can lead to extraordinary alliances that benefit all.

The pictures are clear and bright with just the necessary words to move the story along. The monsters introduced are recognisable so enjoyable for existing fans. I particularly liked the way pronunciation of certain names were explained.

This is a sweet and gently spooky story that was fun to read. It offers a fine introduction to Buffy for the next generation.

[Mehsi]

Buffy is back, this time as a kid. What is hiding in her bedroom closet?

I was excited when I was browsing Twitter and suddenly stumbled upon a tweet with this book in it. I was instantly intrigued. I love Buffy the Vampire Slayer, watched a few episodes here and there when it aired, and now in the midst of watching it all. :) So I just had to have this one, and well, not only me, my fiance (who also loves BtVS) was also interested.

First up, plus points to the cover (front and back) which captures the characters perfectly. On the front we see Buffy in a fighting pose, Willow hiding behind Buffy and a pillow, and Xander being Xander. On the back, Willow is reading a book about spells (which is kind of a spoiler), Xander is reading about monsters, Buffy has an ABC on Vampires, and Giles is holding some old book.

The book starts off with Buffy as we know her, a teen. She tells us how she kicks some vampire butts, but then tells us about how she was when she was 8. Afraid of the dark, afraid of what was in the closet. And I don't blame her, there are some very scary noises coming out of that place, I would have also ran away or shivered in terror under my many blankets.

Thankfully she has her friends, Willow and Xander. And she is about to find out that she has a very special destiny (I did think it was a bit anticlimactic on how he told her, but hey, it is a kids book).

What happens after her talk with Giles? Another sleepover, this time to open the closet door. What will they find? Well, you will just have to read the book. I can tell that I had quite a laugh about what was in there, though I also had some questions about it.

The ending was the only thing that was quite disappointing. I would have liked a few more pages, maybe even see teen Buffy again.

But all in all, I had tons of fun reading this. Perfect for fans, but also perfect for kids who are afraid of the dark/what may be lurking in places. Buffy will show them to kick that fear's ass. :P

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Rod Brown]

I liked the picture book versions of Life is Better with Friends and The Karate Kid I recently read, but this take on Buffy the Vampire Slayer didn't work for me because it violated the canon too much, being a Buffy Babies reboot instead of a nostalgic callback

A teenaged Buffy Summers reflects back to when she was eight and scared of the dark. But she already know Rupert Giles, an elementary school librarian who offers advice, and she has a sleepover with Willow Rosenberg and Xander Harris, who are suddenly childhood friends, to help confront her fears. A dozen or more recognizable creatures and monsters from the show appear, but they all act drastically out of character.

Even if I grant that this is an entirely new version of Buffy, I don't think it really works for kids because of the scary monster elements and a poor moral about befriending strangers who are stalking you.

[Alice]

This was the cutest picture book. It is the perfect way to introduce a child into the world of Buffy and when they are older force them to watch all the episodes. I loved looking for the little details that would make any Buffy fan smile in delight, or in my case grin like a dork and make a giggle sound. You see familiar faces of people Buffy goes up against in the show and her little pig stuffed animal, Mr. Gordo! The illustrations by Kim Smith are so adorable. As this is meant for children the canon is changed; it is the cute, innocent version of Buffy. I loved it. I'm an adult who still loves picture books, children books, young adult, and adult books, too. (and that will never change!)

[Selena Pigoni]

Cute. A children's book adventure of child Buffy and friends.

[romancelibrary]

Super cute!! Loved seeing the monsters from the show!

[Kerri]

This is a super cute story about facing fears of the dark and scary noises in the closet, put into the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, obviously. The illustrations are adorable and fun. The story definitely pulls on the show, but to my small human it is just an enjoyable read.

[Rpaul Tho]

Cute story and loved the illustrations.

[Sophie Elaina]

Bought for my nephew, but decided to have a sneaky read first. I have to say that I can’t wait to read it with him. I’m actually very pleasantly surprised, it definitely had that nostalgic feel; and even though I’m an adult I really enjoyed it. The story is very cute and made me smile and laugh a couple of times. And the artwork is beautiful, I love the bright colour choices and how the artist was able to keep a likeness to the tv show while also making it more fun and quirky. Definitely would recommend. I’m rather intrigued to see what the other books in this series are like, especially the X-Files one.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken]

Full review is now posted over on my blog: https://allthebookblognamesaretaken.b...

++++++++++

Okay, so obviously it is not canon but this is a most excellent introduction to Buffy for my five year old, who wants to watch the show so badly. I don't know how much longer I will be able to tell her no, because the show is THAT GOOD. But she's five, so...

[Raven Black]

This takes the Buffy story during the TV series, but forgets there was movie (like many fans do). This time all of Sunnydale is there (Willow, Xander, Giles) but as if Buffy was an 8-year-old girl instead of the teen she was in the series. Actually it starts off as with Buffy "now" and then flashes back to being eight. The illustrations are funny and colorful and very modern. The fan will recognize the monsters in the closet (even the "good" monsters). The X-Files: Earth Children Are Weird was more fun for me as I had not watched a lot of X-Files so I was able to step back and enjoy them having an adventure as kids. Having watched most of the Buffy series, this diversion from the series is a little off-putting. But in the end, it is just a funny story about a girl who is afraid of the dark and learns to face the Monster (or monsters) in the closet.

[Alicia]

What a cute idea! We see Buffy, Willow, and Xander all as 8 year olds when Buffy was too afraid to confront the monster in her closet. As a stand-alone, its another take on the monster in the closet/facing fears book. As a Buffy fan, it was just a lot of fun, not to be taken too seriously. There are Easter eggs for the fans but they won't ruin the book for a non-Buffy fan It's a good balance, but I can also see this book working more for nostalgia than a book for a younger audience.

For: readers wanting a book about facing fears; Buffy fans.

Possible red flags: some readers may find the book too suspenseful.

[Amy]

What most reviewers don’t remember is that this is a children’s book. They want to criticize the fact that Buffy didn’t know Willow or Xander as a child. Or the fact that all the monsters that try to kill Buffy just end up partying with her as a child. It’s a children’s book people! Your child probably hadn’t even watched Buffy and therefore won’t know the difference.

That being said, I love the cute story line with all the little hidden details and items from the show. The illustrations were colorful and charming. I can’t wait to read this to my daughter.

[Elle]

An adorable, beautifully illustrated picture book which re-imagines the story of Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Buffy and her friends as eight-year-olds. With tons of cameos and little nods to the show, this book will appeal to kids and their parents alike!

[Margaux]

Read this one with Stella. I’m a big believer in, “if the grownup likes the material, the child will, too.” And that’s the case here. Obvs, I love Buffy so she loved this story. Great colorful illustrations didn’t hurt.

[Melissa Flanagin]

UMMMMMM, So can we get this cartoon on Nick now!?!?!