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How to Be a Zombie: The Essential Guide for Anyone Who Craves Brains
So you’re a zombie. What now? Slow down — and flesh out the life of the mindless with this essential guide for the newly undead.
The vacant stare, the shambling gait, the sense that you’re falling apart — adjusting to "life" as a zombie takes a little getting used to. And what’s with the sudden obsession with brains? Time to get your outstretched hands on this comprehensive handbook spelling out all things z-o-m-b-i-e.
* identify your zombie archetype, figure out if you’re dating a zombie, and savor the joy of brains (or alternative foods when necessary)
* learn how to "pass" among the living, brush up on zombie fashion and etiquette, discover decor for the decaying, and check out some awesome tunes to eat brains by
* explore zombies in literature, films, and novels — and learn the truth about rumored celebrity zombies
* attention span getting shorter? Enjoy mini graphic novels on how to evade zombie hunters, take a zombie road trip, and"who do that voodoo"
* and much, much more guaranteed to make a trendy — if creepy and vacuous — creature proud!
The vacant stare, the shambling gait, the sense that you’re falling apart — adjusting to "life" as a zombie takes a little getting used to. And what’s with the sudden obsession with brains? Time to get your outstretched hands on this comprehensive handbook spelling out all things z-o-m-b-i-e.
* identify your zombie archetype, figure out if you’re dating a zombie, and savor the joy of brains (or alternative foods when necessary)
* learn how to "pass" among the living, brush up on zombie fashion and etiquette, discover decor for the decaying, and check out some awesome tunes to eat brains by
* explore zombies in literature, films, and novels — and learn the truth about rumored celebrity zombies
* attention span getting shorter? Enjoy mini graphic novels on how to evade zombie hunters, take a zombie road trip, and"who do that voodoo"
* and much, much more guaranteed to make a trendy — if creepy and vacuous — creature proud!
144 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2010
About the author
Serena Valentino
163 books6,215 followersSerena Valentino is best known for weaving tales that combine mythos and guile with her work on the comic book series GloomCookie and Nightmares & Fairy Tales, and her best selling Disney Villain Novels which have earned her critical acclaim for her unique style of storytelling, bringing her readers into exquisitely frightening worlds filled with terror, beauty and extraordinary female protagonists.
Her Disney Villain novel series would be best enjoyed if read in this order: Fairest of All: The Story of the Wicked Queen, The Beast Within: The Story of Belle’s Prince, Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch, Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy. Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch and The Odd Sisters: A Villains Book to be released in Summer 2019. Book 7 will be out Summer 2020, Book 8 summer of 2021, and Book 9 Summer of 2022.
Serena lives in New Orleans with her dog Gozer, and a very tiny kitty named Momma.
Contact: Serena@serenavalentino.com
Her Disney Villain novel series would be best enjoyed if read in this order: Fairest of All: The Story of the Wicked Queen, The Beast Within: The Story of Belle’s Prince, Poor Unfortunate Soul: A Tale of the Sea Witch, Mistress of All Evil: A Tale of the Dark Fairy. Mother Knows Best: A Tale of the Old Witch and The Odd Sisters: A Villains Book to be released in Summer 2019. Book 7 will be out Summer 2020, Book 8 summer of 2021, and Book 9 Summer of 2022.
Serena lives in New Orleans with her dog Gozer, and a very tiny kitty named Momma.
Contact: Serena@serenavalentino.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 17, 2010
First, let me just say the romanticizing of zombies really cranks my grinder. They're zombies. Undead, rotting corpses. What can possibly be appealing about that? But putting that aside, this was a pretty cute book. Very nicely put together, I loved the visuals that came with all of the tips. My favorites were the musical selections.
I liked how the book outlined each different type of zombie gathered from various sources and stuck to the confines of each zombie; meaning those rage virus zombies didn't have much of a chance for a romantic life since they're pretty much bat shit insane and would rip apart any significant other they came across. As much humor that was throughout the book, there is legitimate lore littered throughout which is a nice break from it all. It helps ground out the extreme that the book is taking zombiism to.
I loved all of the pictures and fonts that went along with all of the text. It complimented the entire feel of the book nicely. A mixture of digitally edited photographs and drawings, they're both heinously creepy and when need be funny at the same time. It was a nice juxtaposition throughout the book. Yes, it's pretty much making fun of romanticized zombies and banking on the extreme that people are taking it to but at the same time it's showcasing just how icky these things really are.
It gives excellent selections for zombie-related music and classic zombie movie choices. You can't really beat that. There's even a quirky comic and a couple of zombie quizzes you can take to see where you rank in the greater zombie-verse. The voice is poignant and portrays what it's trying to say as clearly as possible, with just a little sarcasm. It's definitely catering to a specific audience but at the same time those that are a little more leery of the romanticized zombie can get a kick out of what Valentino is saying.
It's quirky, funny and, yes, cute. There's just no other word for it. I love the make-up of some of the chicks in the photos and I can use other creeptastic photos for excellent triggers for writing. Can't beat that. This book certainly doesn't take itself seriously but it hits upon pretty realistic points concerning zombies that you might not have thought of otherwise. So if you want a good kick out of the zombie world, this book's a good one to do it. It's a quick read that'll have you laughing at points and taking notes at others.
I liked how the book outlined each different type of zombie gathered from various sources and stuck to the confines of each zombie; meaning those rage virus zombies didn't have much of a chance for a romantic life since they're pretty much bat shit insane and would rip apart any significant other they came across. As much humor that was throughout the book, there is legitimate lore littered throughout which is a nice break from it all. It helps ground out the extreme that the book is taking zombiism to.
I loved all of the pictures and fonts that went along with all of the text. It complimented the entire feel of the book nicely. A mixture of digitally edited photographs and drawings, they're both heinously creepy and when need be funny at the same time. It was a nice juxtaposition throughout the book. Yes, it's pretty much making fun of romanticized zombies and banking on the extreme that people are taking it to but at the same time it's showcasing just how icky these things really are.
It gives excellent selections for zombie-related music and classic zombie movie choices. You can't really beat that. There's even a quirky comic and a couple of zombie quizzes you can take to see where you rank in the greater zombie-verse. The voice is poignant and portrays what it's trying to say as clearly as possible, with just a little sarcasm. It's definitely catering to a specific audience but at the same time those that are a little more leery of the romanticized zombie can get a kick out of what Valentino is saying.
It's quirky, funny and, yes, cute. There's just no other word for it. I love the make-up of some of the chicks in the photos and I can use other creeptastic photos for excellent triggers for writing. Can't beat that. This book certainly doesn't take itself seriously but it hits upon pretty realistic points concerning zombies that you might not have thought of otherwise. So if you want a good kick out of the zombie world, this book's a good one to do it. It's a quick read that'll have you laughing at points and taking notes at others.
March 10, 2011
Zombies are everywhere. In movies, books, and even T.V., but what if you were a zombie or wanted to be one and had a hard time figuring stuff out?
Well How to be a Zombie by Serena Valentino is a guide so that you don't sweat the small stuff.
Inside descriptions of different zombies, different zombie fashion looks, how to look like a zombie before you make the final dive into actually becoming one and how to deal with your human counterparts and much more.
I found this book just funny in some cases and the pictures and descriptions for each section not too bad. Though there were some things about zombies they choose as the best for movies ect. that I may disagree with, this book gave a look at what could be a guide to all us zombie lovers.
Well How to be a Zombie by Serena Valentino is a guide so that you don't sweat the small stuff.
Inside descriptions of different zombies, different zombie fashion looks, how to look like a zombie before you make the final dive into actually becoming one and how to deal with your human counterparts and much more.
I found this book just funny in some cases and the pictures and descriptions for each section not too bad. Though there were some things about zombies they choose as the best for movies ect. that I may disagree with, this book gave a look at what could be a guide to all us zombie lovers.
November 5, 2018
This is a celebration of all things zombie. It is full of pop culture trivia, fun quizzes, and tips for awesome zombie-themed costume and party ideas.
May 3, 2020
Fun little read.
July 18, 2010
To be honest, I was a tad disappointed when I finished "How to be a Zombie".
Usually I'm a big fan of Zombies and of Serena Valentino's works, so I though things could not go wrong.
They didn't, not entirely, but they also did not go right.
It's less the writing (which is fun although you get a lot of recurrences) and more the whole design.
It has that look-mommy-I-can-use-photoshop!-feeling you get when someone goes overboard on filters and textures or just tries to figure out how to use Photoshop.
Sometimes less is more.
What also was a bit wearisome was the whole "Ask your parents first!"-thing that got mentioned over and over again.
I wouldn't have said anything if there was a warning in the beginning or the end of the book, that minors should ask their parents before trying anything from this book but reading it again and again every few pages was a pain in the a...
There were a few nices things 'though.
I liked the zombie classification, the movie and book tipps and also the tipps how to prepare yourself for the next zombie walk.
All in all it was a good read and I would give it 2-3 stars. Sill I prefer Serena Valentinos comics and novels.
Usually I'm a big fan of Zombies and of Serena Valentino's works, so I though things could not go wrong.
They didn't, not entirely, but they also did not go right.
It's less the writing (which is fun although you get a lot of recurrences) and more the whole design.
It has that look-mommy-I-can-use-photoshop!-feeling you get when someone goes overboard on filters and textures or just tries to figure out how to use Photoshop.
Sometimes less is more.
What also was a bit wearisome was the whole "Ask your parents first!"-thing that got mentioned over and over again.
I wouldn't have said anything if there was a warning in the beginning or the end of the book, that minors should ask their parents before trying anything from this book but reading it again and again every few pages was a pain in the a...
There were a few nices things 'though.
I liked the zombie classification, the movie and book tipps and also the tipps how to prepare yourself for the next zombie walk.
All in all it was a good read and I would give it 2-3 stars. Sill I prefer Serena Valentinos comics and novels.
July 2, 2010
Serena Valentino humorously describes all things Zombie. You do not have to be a rabid zombie fan to love this book! Written for brain-dead newly zombified initiates, Serena Valentino thoroughly describes zombie culture in movies, books, video games, and even board games. I had no idea there were different types of zombie, and the various ways in which one can become a zombie. I was happy to see that my all time favorite zombie movie, the 80's classic Night of the Comet, was included. Illustrated with color pictures on every page, this book is sure to catch the eye of reluctant readers, and draw them into the mysterious zombie world. One bonus is an all new Zombie Love mini graphic novel created by the author herself who may be known for her comic book series: Nightmares and Fairytales, and Gloomcookie. Rated ages 12 and up, Valentino gives advice for younger zombies when to ask their parental zombies if it is okay to explore more mature zombie culture in books and video games.
October 11, 2010
Written as a guidebook for the newly undead who want to survive alongside and occasionally dining on humans, this book includes movie, music and book references to delight both the human and undead readers. The full color guide book includes movie stills and photographs to illustrate all things zombie.
I had fun reading this book to puzzle out the zombie references, and though I didn’t always like the tone, I enjoyed how knowledgeable Valentino was about the genre. Since I have an annual Halloween party, I am always looking for suggestions for food, music, movies and games, not to mention the advice on costuming to try on an undead identity for a day. The zombie literate may not find anything new, but newcomers to the genre will find a wealth of material to keep exploring the genre. As a guidebook to suggest zombie resources or to have a zombie theme party (or participate in a Zombie Walk), How to be a Zombie is a winner.
I had fun reading this book to puzzle out the zombie references, and though I didn’t always like the tone, I enjoyed how knowledgeable Valentino was about the genre. Since I have an annual Halloween party, I am always looking for suggestions for food, music, movies and games, not to mention the advice on costuming to try on an undead identity for a day. The zombie literate may not find anything new, but newcomers to the genre will find a wealth of material to keep exploring the genre. As a guidebook to suggest zombie resources or to have a zombie theme party (or participate in a Zombie Walk), How to be a Zombie is a winner.
Read
May 8, 2012Sabrina Smith
Informational
This “how-to guide” draws on a great deal of pop-culture, recent and dated. Topics covered include the various types of zombies and essential information about each type, zombie anatomy, how to tell your family you are a zombie, how to do zombie makeup to try it out before becoming one, and suggestions of movies, books, and music that are zombie-themed.
This book is endearing. The graphics and layout are colorful and edgy, an appropriate fit for the topic and the target audience. Underneath all the zombie talk, this book will speak to teens that are searching for their identity and striving for acceptance from their family, peers, and themselves. This book pretty comprehensively covers all things zombie, and teens will love it.
Informational
This “how-to guide” draws on a great deal of pop-culture, recent and dated. Topics covered include the various types of zombies and essential information about each type, zombie anatomy, how to tell your family you are a zombie, how to do zombie makeup to try it out before becoming one, and suggestions of movies, books, and music that are zombie-themed.
This book is endearing. The graphics and layout are colorful and edgy, an appropriate fit for the topic and the target audience. Underneath all the zombie talk, this book will speak to teens that are searching for their identity and striving for acceptance from their family, peers, and themselves. This book pretty comprehensively covers all things zombie, and teens will love it.
July 13, 2010
Ha! Love the Zombie Playlists.
April 12, 2011
Got this book for my birthday, pleased with amount of information and pictures. Ms Valentino knows how to capture people with a few mysterious words to keep them reading.
August 16, 2018
Another entertaining instructional guide in the how-to series from Candlewick Press. I want to read them all! The pages are gorgeous. As a writer, I would be proud to have my name on a book like this one. I giggled my way through tongue in cheek zombie comedy. I would have read this book as a preteen or teen. And I think it is a good introduction for anyone not familiar with monsters in literature.
December 28, 2023
Quick impressions: The book is amusing and light. It's a relatively quick read. I liked it. The text is supplemented by full color art and photos throughout.
(More detailed review on my blog)
(More detailed review on my blog)
January 17, 2025
A cute little book that is meant for a younger audience. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I thought it would be gory and go into the details of what its likes to live as a zombie. It isn’t of course but is a lovely little read for kids interested in horror.
June 8, 2015
This book was a random find on the discount shelf, so I didn't expect much from it. I'm an avid zombie fan so I thought it was a cool random find. I really just expected it to be a funny read with some interesting tidbits throughout. I was a little disappointed with it overall. The intro is quite literally about "how to be a zombie" giving tips on living with humans, what to eat, and such. It seemed like the author was stretching for things to write about, and because the topics felt forced at times, it got a little boring.
The second half of the book had more interesting stuff -- lists of zombie books, movies, etc; zombie knowledge quiz; real life stories of zombies; etc. All that stuff had a point to it, and felt more focused, so it was more interesting and fun to read. The back half also had instructions for doing zombie makeup and such, which was cool. Overall, if the whole book had been more like the second half I would have given it 4 stars and it'd be a book I'd keep for fun. As the book is, though, it's not something I'm keeping or reading again. It was a quick read, with fun moments, but it's more of a novelty thing to read once and be done.
The second half of the book had more interesting stuff -- lists of zombie books, movies, etc; zombie knowledge quiz; real life stories of zombies; etc. All that stuff had a point to it, and felt more focused, so it was more interesting and fun to read. The back half also had instructions for doing zombie makeup and such, which was cool. Overall, if the whole book had been more like the second half I would have given it 4 stars and it'd be a book I'd keep for fun. As the book is, though, it's not something I'm keeping or reading again. It was a quick read, with fun moments, but it's more of a novelty thing to read once and be done.
February 25, 2012
I've read "How To Be A Vampire" and this is presented in the exact same way. It was nice to have an explanation of different types of zombies and where they came from. Examples are rage zombies and voodoo zombies. Most of the book explained the changes of being a zombie and how to cope. What I liked best were the pages that showed how to apply zombie make-up and wounds, foods like graveyard cakes and bloody-eyeball punch to have at parties,and movies, books and games that a zombie (or fan) would enjoy. Overall the book was "meh". Got bored with it a lot and that's why it took a while to get through even though it is a short and quick read.
October 10, 2020
How to Be a Zombie is one of my favorite books. I keep coming back to it because it is just plain entertaining. Humor and tongue in cheek about what we are discussing but it takes itself just enough seriously that you can tell real time and effort was put into this. Serena researched it well; we go through several different types of zombies and how different they are from one another. We get the history of zombies; we start with the first books on the subject and go through all the movies and books and music that have been about them over the years. Just a wealth of information about zombies.
September 22, 2012
Filled with different zombie stories, what kind of zombie are you, how to be the best zombie, and other chapters, this is create for graphic novel readers, zombie lovers, getting ready for a zombie walk, etc. Though it really does give you a "serious" look since there is a table of contests, glossary, index, and further information including other books and zombie walks across the world. For real!
July 29, 2011
This is a cute little sourcebook for information on zombie makeup, zombie movies, zombie books, and even zombie music. It combines a liberal dose of humor, with general informational tidbits about the genre. This is very light reading, and nothing heavy or scary. I'd probably let my pre-teen read this if he had interest.
September 14, 2010
Rather disappointing and repetitive - I found myself skipping a lot of boring pages but I did find the selection of films, comics and games rather interesting.
An okay little guide, just rather long and drawn out with nothing particularly exciting going on.
Marco.
An okay little guide, just rather long and drawn out with nothing particularly exciting going on.
Marco.
March 24, 2011
Age: 6th-11th
Positives: Eye-catching graphics, easy to understand organization of content, funny, spark to get kids interested in books, good for girls and boys, resources for further interest
To take note: quick read, magazine appeal
Positives: Eye-catching graphics, easy to understand organization of content, funny, spark to get kids interested in books, good for girls and boys, resources for further interest
To take note: quick read, magazine appeal
July 24, 2011
I wavered between 3 and 4 stars here. I really liked the literature and movie lists, but they weren't as comprehensive as they could have been.
Unique and entertaining, but nothing to write home about.
Unique and entertaining, but nothing to write home about.
November 11, 2011
Thoughtful and well-researched, this book is essential for any zombie just starting out. It covers all the big topics - finding the right style, food, lodging, travel, and how to throw a killer party.
August 24, 2010
Okay--maybe a little too much zombie stuff for me, but it's a fun treatment of a how-to genre.
June 13, 2011
I dug this!
June 29, 2011
Interesting book, and really funny. Perfect read for anyone who's looking for a laugh or some mindless fun :)
April 15, 2012
Funny, fluffy, and extremely cute for a zombie how-to guide.
Read
October 19, 2012Foodfic musing - not a traditional review:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2012/10/...
October 23, 2013
This book is about different way to be a zombie and how to excape from one and how to survive.It is ok.
March 10, 2014
This was just amusing to read. Simple as that. Lol. Gave me some good ideas for some costumes though
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews