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Petit Vampire #1

Little Vampire Goes to School

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Little Vampire lives in a great big mansion and can change into a rat, a wolf, or a bat in the blink of an eye. He doesn't have to follow rules and he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to do.

So why is Little Vampire so sad?

He wants to go to school

40 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2003

2 people are currently reading
171 people want to read

About the author

Joann Sfar

491 books512 followers
Joann Sfar (born August 28, 1971 in Nice) is a French comics artist, comic book creator, and film director.

Sfar is considered one of the most important artists of the new wave of Franco-Belgian comics. Many of his comics were published by L'Association which was founded in 1990 by Jean-Christophe Menu and six other artists. He also worked together with many of the new movement's main artists, e.g. David B. and Lewis Trondheim. The Donjon series which he created with Trondheim has a cult following in many countries.

Some of his comics are inspired by his Jewish heritage as the son of Jewish parents (an Ashkenazi mother and a Sephardic father). He himself says that there is Ashkenazi humor in his Professeur Bell series (loosely based on Joseph Bell), whereas Le chat du rabbin is clearly inspired by his Sephardic side. Les olives noires is a series about a Jewish child in Israel at the time of Jesus. Like Le chat du rabbin, the series contains a lot of historical and theological information.

His main influences are Fred and André Franquin as well as Marc Chagall, Chaim Soutine, Will Eisner, Hugo Pratt and John Buscema.

From 2009 to 2010, Sfar wrote and directed 'Serge Gainsbourgh: Une Vie Heroique', a biopic of the notorious French songwriter, of whom Sfar is a self-confessed fanatic. The film, which draws substantially on Sfar's abilities as a comic book artist through its extensive use of fantasy artwork, animation and puppetry, was released in 2010 to general critical acclaim.

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5 stars
113 (32%)
4 stars
153 (43%)
3 stars
73 (20%)
2 stars
12 (3%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Sara.
1,802 reviews563 followers
November 14, 2024
This was one of the books Maede recommended.
It was interesting to see the style and artwork of French comics compared to what we usually see. Besides that, it had some cute lines and illustrations that made it really charming overall.

-And I don't believe much in God. 'Cause my parents are dead.
+You're a bit young to believe in nothing.
-Well, maybe he exists, Captain, but after what he did to me, I don't feel Like I owe him anything.
Profile Image for Miguel Lupián.
Author 21 books146 followers
November 24, 2020
¡Desde cuándo quería leer esta saga! En este primer número nos presentan a Pequeño Vampiro, el castillo donde vive/muere, a sus padres, a los fantasmas y monstruos que lo acompañan y al genial Fantomate, su perro guardián rosa volador. También, cómo conoce a Miguel (¡como yo!), un niño humano de aproximadamente (¡ja!) su edad. El arte es increíble y el humor, aunque ligero, es bastante funcional y emotivo. Aprovechen que el FCE los está rematando.
Profile Image for Aino.
170 reviews4 followers
March 10, 2021
10/10 rakastin tätä, ehkä hienoin lasten sarjakuva ikinä, ihan vitun hieno oikeesti, tää on lasten versio Addam's familysta
Profile Image for Ville.
183 reviews5 followers
December 20, 2025
En muista lukeneeni aiemmin Sfarin teoksia, vaikka tiesin hänet arvostetuksi (ja tuotteliaaksi) tekijäksi. Mutta jatkossa täytyy lukeakin lisää, tämäpä vasta olikin sympaattinen kertomus! Kuvitus oli viehättävä mutta tarinakin oli onnistuneempi kuin arvasinkaan. Tietenkin hieman naiivi, mutta kuitenkin ihan ovela ja vetävä. Lyhyeen sivumäärään ei saa ihmeitä ja tämä oli selvästi suunnattu nuoremmalle lukijakunnalle mutta helppo nähdä, miksi tekijää niin ylistetään - todella näppärä albumi!
Profile Image for Jessica.
1,098 reviews44 followers
February 28, 2022
5 Stars! ★★★★★
This was so freaking cute, my jaw hurts from smiling! I know this is a children’s book, but it was so funny and witty, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything from the silly pink dog with the mouth of a sailor, to the little vampire meeting his new human friend.

The part when the little vampire and Michael started writing to each other in a notebook without meeting for the first time was hilarious!
Paraphrasing:
“Who are you?”
“A vampire”
“Don’t believe you. Vampires aren’t real”
“Really? So who comes into your school at night?
“I dunno, a burglar.”
“You think if I was a burglar I’d have nothing better to do than your algebra homework at night?”
“Maybe your a burglar who loves math.”
“If I liked math, I would have had good grades in school and I wouldn’t have to be a burglar for a living.”
-Hahahahaa! (Maybe you need the art to emphasize the comedy of this skit but I was in a fit of giggles!
Profile Image for Matti Karjalainen.
3,257 reviews87 followers
September 24, 2021
Pikku Vampyyri haluaa mennä kouluun ja tavata ikäisiään lapsia. Muita haamuja ja erityisesti Pikku Vampyyrin vaaleanpunaista koiraa Fantomaattia tämä ihmetyttää suuresti, mutta lopulta äiti antaa luvan. Valitettavasti öisin koulussa ei ole ketään, mutta lapsiin tutustuminen onnistuu helposti kouluvihon välityksellä käytävän kirjeenvaihdon myötä. Mutta mitä pieni Mikael Tahvonen mahtaa miettiä saadessaan viestejä ihan oikealta vampyyrilta?

Joann Sfarin käsikirjoittama ja persoonallisella, tunnistettavalla tyylillä kuvittama "Pikku Vampyyri menee kouluun" (Arktinen Banaani, 2004) on viehättävä lastensarjakuva, jota ei ole syytä sekoittaa saksalaisen Angela Sommer-Bodenburgin kirjasarjaan.

Lämminhenkinen tarina erilaisista ystävistä on sopivan kammottava, ja se sopii hyvin pienemmille alakoululaisille luettavaksi vaikka pimeneviin syysiltoihin. Sfarin hahmottelema hahmogalleria hirviöineen päivineen on ilmeikäs. Erityisen vaikuttavana mieleen jää kummitusten johtaja, entinen Lentävän hollantilaisen kapteeni ja nykyinen Pikku Vampyyrin isä.

Sfar ei aliarvioi kohderyhmää tai kulje sieltä missä aita on matalin, vaikka joku kakkavitsi mukana olisikin. Nuorena orvoksi jääneen Mikaelin ja Kapteenin välisessä öisessä keskustelussa pohdiskellaan suhdetta Jumalaan.

"No, ehkä hän on olemassa, mutta kaiken sen jälkeen mitä Hän on minulle tehnyt en ole Hänelle mitään velkaa."

Lastensarjakuvaksi tämä on ihan täysosuma. Jos jotakin naputettavaa täytyy keksiä, niin aina välillä käytetty kaunokirjoitusfontti saattaa muodostua ongelmaksi ihan pienimmille lukijoille.

Suomessa sarjakuva jäi valitettavasti kustannussyistä tähän yhteen ainoaan osaan, vaikka "Pikku Vampyyri taitaa kung-fun" -seikkailua ehdittiin jo mainostaa tarinan lopussa.
Profile Image for Juan Fuentes.
Author 7 books82 followers
September 18, 2018
Una de las mejores conversaciones que he leído en un cómic, más si es para niños:

- Haz la señal de la cruz
- No. No puedo hacer eso.
- Eso daría mayor fuerza a tu juramento
- Sí, pero yo soy judío, capitán. La cruz no tiene mucho sentido para mí.
- Hax la señal de la estrella, en ese caso
- Nosotros nohacemos eso. Y además, no creo demasiado en Dios. Porque mis padres han muerto.
- Eres un poco joven para no creer en nada.
- En fin, quizás exista, Capitán, pero después de lo que me ha hecho, no le debo nada.
- Deberías reflexionar mejor sobre todo eso. A veces las desgracias nos abren puertas mágicas.
Profile Image for Bea Luna.
109 reviews2 followers
March 6, 2023
Mi hermano pequeño me recomendó el libro.
Es muy tierno e inocente pero me gustó que entre medio igual metió reflexiones/cuestionamientos serios
Profile Image for Michel.
466 reviews31 followers
August 30, 2015
Petit Vampire is een kleine vampier. Hij is zo vrij als de lucht, hij kan vliegen, zich veranderen in een rat, een wolf, een vleermuis, en hij mag zelfs meisjes bijten tot ze bloeden zonder straf te krijgen van zijn mama.

Maar hij zou graag naar school gaan. Als hij dat echt wil, mag hij dat natuurlijk.

In het dorp is er een school, en op een goeie nacht zet hij aan. Als hij toekomt op school, blijkt dat er geen enkele leerling is — logisch natuurlijk: de kinderen komen alleen overdag naar school.

Hij is er het hart van in, maar de Kapitein van de Doden weet raad: hij zal ’s nachts les geven aan Petit Vampire en aan een hele klas vol spoken. Ze moeten wel hun eigen schrift en schrijfgerief meenemen, want ze mogen niet in de schriften van de kinderen schrijven.

Petit Vampire doet dat wel, en hij begint een schrijfgesprek met Michel, een jongen uit het dorp. Als dat uitkomt, moet de jongen naar de doden gaan, zodat de Kapitein kan zien of hij hun geheimen zal verklappen of niet.

En dan worden Petit Vampire en Michel vrienden.

Zo mooooooi! Van Joann Sfar, die onder meer ook Le chat du rabbin deed en Grand Vampire.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
383 reviews3 followers
April 30, 2008
When little Vampire decides he wants to go out of the haunted house to go to school like other kids, his monster and ghoul friends help him work through the whole daylight problem. Humorous storyline and haunting characters will make upper elementary school and middle school comic book fans cackling.

CIP: A lonely little vampire, yearning for a friend, gets permission from the other monsters to go to school and makes the acquaintance of a boy who does not believe that vampires are real.

. . . will keep preteen comic-book fans amused. Kirkus Reviews

**Book originally written in France and may not have other reviews.
Profile Image for Dennis.
565 reviews21 followers
September 14, 2009
a gem! the volume I read contains three stories, including Goes to School. the story is fun, the illustrations very sophisticated without losing their child appeal.
25 reviews
August 30, 2016
This book is absolutely amazing. The art is great, the humor always lands. The story actually goes to many different places and i was super involved. This book explodes with personality.
Profile Image for Lorelupin Acevedo (El Caldero Literario).
731 reviews25 followers
March 27, 2024
Simplemente llegue a este libro buscando recomendaciones de novela grafica y fue una hermosa opción, es que no se por que, la vida se empeña en que lea de vampiros, creo que es la creatura paranormal de la que mas he leído y eso es raro pero me gusta.

Esta es una historia infantil muy hermosa sobre un pequeño vampiro que vive en una mansión lúgubre con mas monstruos y espectros, entre ellos su mamá y como quiere ir a la escuela y lo que sucede cuando su mamá le da permiso, pero hay un pequeño problema por que el vampiro solo puede ir en la noche y las clases son en la mañana.

Como digo es una historia muy hermosa, que encontré por casualidad y que se me hizo muy divertida y que me recordó al estilo del Conde Patula, así todo lúgubre y gótico, pero que es para niños, pero que en ocasiones tiene un dibujo adulto.

Es cortito, pero de esas novelas graficas que no puedes parar de leer, muy divertida, interesante, muy linda y que quiero leer los demás tomos que tiene esta historia, aunque me dejo pensando que se parece mucho a la historia de Angela Sommer-Bodenburg, ok tiene diferencias muy notables, pero no se si fue inspiración para el autor o no.

Algo divertido que a pesar de ser infantil tiene muchos buenos mensajes para los niños y que te saca una que otra carcajada, rápido de leer, entretenido y aunque con unas ilustraciones muy extrañas me gusto mucho y se los recomiendo, para algo entre lecturas creo que queda muy bien y los hará pasar un buen rato.

Entrada completa en: http://calderoliterario7.blogspot.mx
Profile Image for Didinebzh29.
38 reviews
November 7, 2017
Le p'tit der m'a fait découvrir ce personnage à travers Les nouvelles aventures de Petit Vampire (voir photo précédente). Du coup, j'ai eu envie de découvrir la première série. C'est chose faite avec la lecture de ce premier tome. Les dessins sont tout aussi coloré, les personnages tout aussi atypique, les dialogues sont remplis d'humour et l'histoire est toute mignonne. On retrouve une partie de l'histoire dans la nouvelle série. Le petite plus, la petite morale à la fin de ce tome. En bref, j'ai adoré et suis pressée que le p'tit der le découvre aussi.
Profile Image for Lina Quezada.
47 reviews2 followers
October 27, 2019
Las ilustraciones están voladas, padrísimas. Si pudiera tener 10 años otra vez, definitivamente me gustaría tener este librito.
Ingenioso, divertido, hace de los monstruos unos amigos.
Me gustó un montón, salvó porque al final la historia del primer tomo termina con el foco en Miguel y no en Pequeño Vampiro, cuando la historia es de este último. Es algo personal, fuera de eso me parece una historia apta para niños. Las risillas casuales acompañan a lo largo de la breve lectura, lo cual se disfruta mucho.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nadia Costa.
345 reviews12 followers
August 26, 2024
...
Michel - 'Enfin, peut-être qu'il existe [Dieu] capitaine, mais après ce qu'il m'a fait je ne lui doit rien.
Capitaine des Morts - Tu devrais mieux réfléchir à tout cela. Certains malheurs nous ouvrent des portes magiques'
Profile Image for Pimi.
116 reviews4 followers
June 13, 2020
Lo que pocas veces se encuentra: sinceridad en diálogos con niños.
Profile Image for Brenna.
199 reviews34 followers
July 11, 2009
Breaking rank with the traditional "first day of school" children's book, French cartoonist Joann Sfar brings an eccentric addition to the fare. While the comic book's subject has to do with the (friendly) vampire's visit to school, the story delves further than that surface level.

Michael, a troubled little Jewish boy, lives with his grandparents after the death of his parents. He's not inclined to do his homework, and frequently attempts to lie his way through. However, when he finds that his homework is being mysteriously completed - and properly, at that - during the night, he makes contact with Little Vampire.

The classic "Meet Cute," of course. But it goes beyond that, even, for when it is discovered that little Michael has forbidden knowledge of Little Vampire and his monstrous family, things become more ominous. Not in a terrifying way, but with a somewhat chilling effect nonetheless - at least, for a children's book.

Though having been raised in the Jewish faith, Michael does not really know what to believe anymore. He finds difficulty believing in a higher power that could allow him to have suffered as he has in his young life. Yet, there is no preaching nor pandering to special interests - in point of fact, his doubts and questions are not resolved by the end of the book.

Clearly, not the typical "first day of school" book. This presents a work superior to those dealing with such an overdone topic. On the same point, however, this is a book best enjoyed by an older child - perhaps even with discussion as to the points it raises. Younger children are sure to have even more questions, though the book might prove too challenging to many.

A fantastic introduction to Joann Sfar's field of work, as well.
Profile Image for Ham.
Author 1 book44 followers
November 15, 2009
Very original. But it was so different from frame to frame, it almost felt like different authors were each doing a part of the story. Sometimes it seemed serious and preachy, others it was hilarious, others it was disturbingly morbid. (Which I happen to enjoy.)
Very weird. Very fun. They just need to keep their stories from wandering all over the place.
Profile Image for Suvi.
867 reviews43 followers
April 23, 2014
Pitää myöntää sivistymättömyyteni ja ennakkoluuloni, että tämä sarjakuva liittyy jotenkin Angela Sommer-Bodenburgin sarjaan, mutta eihän se niin ollutkaan.

Pikku Vampyyrillä on tylsää, ja siksi hän haluaa kouluun. Ongelma on vain siinä, että lapset käyvät koulua päivisin, kun taas pikku vampyyri öisin. Onneksi kirjeenvaihto ihmispojan kanssa pelastaa yöt.
Profile Image for Randall.
Author 18 books64 followers
March 16, 2008
A book told in a graphic novel format that made it a bit hard to follow. But I love how it takes the supernatural—a vampire in school—and shows the willingness of kids to accept anyone and anything into their world. They really are quite amazing creatures.
Profile Image for Darcy Roar.
1,369 reviews27 followers
January 5, 2017
So cute! A silly story with wonderful art. I especially enjoy the frank way Sfar writes children (and most characters really), they may have experienced tragedies, but that's not going to stop them playing in the mud.
Profile Image for Rachel.
2,839 reviews63 followers
May 13, 2009
Loved the illustrations and it was a really cute story about Little Vampire wanting to go to school and making friends with a live little boy named Michael instead.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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