Drago, Flavia Z. (2023). Vlad the Fabulous Vampire. Candlewick Press.

*Downloadable activity sheets at the end of this post!

This is the last of the holy Flavia trilogy, as I like to call it. You will also find reviews of Gustavo the Shy Ghost, and Leila the Perfect Witch in this blog. So, let’s get to it!

You have this little vampirey dude, Vlad. He is fabulous. “Fashion is his passion.” But he wants to be just like all the other vampires, so he wears black all the time and hides his secret…his rosy cheeks! He tries to be himself and thinks of it like a breakthrough, by making fabulous outfits out of entirely black, but he figured out that no matter what, he can’t hide who he really is. And he felt like no one understood so he decided to strike out on his own. But as he did, he heard his friend Shelley in trouble. Something had her black bat hat. And underneath it, she had a secret of her own…her bright pink hair! She didn’t think he could possibly like her anymore, so he decided to show her his rosy cheeks! And of course, she still loved him just as he was.

In celebration of being unapologetically who they were, she showed him another secret…her garden. They went off on adventures where they discovered more and more who they really were.

And most importantly, discovered “It’s better to love what makes us unique.” (Can you see Leila and Gustavo figuring out the same lesson here?)

Vlad and Shelley decided to go back and home and together they let Vlad’s colorful fashion flag fly. It didn’t mean that he didn’t sometimes feel out of step or awkward. What it meant was that he knew he was loved and supported for being exactly who he was.

And in celebrating differences, he learned maybe we’re not all so different after all.

Absolutely love this book. Not a big shocker since I like the other two in the series. I think Gustavo is my favorite. Vlad is #2 and Leila #3. I love how the characters can be gentle and loving with one another, appreciate their differences and still be creepy and kooky. It really is a loving community.

Recommended Ages: 3-7

Activity Sheets: