Amazon.com Review

Miss Vampira is delighted to welcome students to her Ghoul School, where they will be expected to learn "a full range of haunting techniques, from basic wailing and groaning to walking through walls." With a classroom full of skeletons, serpents, and slimy spooks, young Cecil Swot, Zombia, Gloop, and the others are set up to succeed in Miss Vampira's fiendish curriculum. And in fact, when the report cards come out, almost all have done remarkably well: "Zombia's constant fidgeting and unhealthy obsession with reptiles make her a joy to have in school."

This sinister school of horrors will reassure any child who believes his or her school is the creepiest of them all. Hands down, Miss Vampira's Ghoul School wins that award. Five two-page spreads unfold spooky pop-up marvels by David Roberts and Corina Fletcher. Check out the vampire who actually twirls to the ground when thrown in the air. Sit down at the lunch table with its full complement of classic school lunches (don't miss the cookbook tucked into a corner with recipes for "Smelly Feet Stew," "Gristle Delight," and "Earwig Tart"). Spin wheels, pull tabs, and lift flaps to secret hiding places to find the most fantastically gross and scary surprises imaginable. (Ages 4 to 8) --Emilie Coulter

Fashion illustrator David Roberts was born in Liverpool and studied fashion before moving to Hong Kong to work as a fashion illustrator. He has illustrated six books, and was runner-up for the 1999 Mother Goose Award for children's illustration. David now lives and works in south London where, when not drawing, he likes to make hats. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.