School Days (Zombelina #3)

K-Gr 2--Zombelina is looking forward to show-and-tell at school. She loves to dance, as she demonstrates on the bus, and plans to share her skills with her class. Naturally being a zombie means that she has difficulty holding things together. Zombelina and her best friend, Lizzie (human) gladly welcome Morty, a new student who is rather blue (literally) to their twosome after neither Zombelina's nor his talent sharing goes particularly well. Zombelina falls apart (she is a zombie after all) but still finds the confidence to encourage Morty. After playing together at recess, Zombelina is inspired to invite everyone to a party at her house where she is finally able to share her dance prowess. The themes of inclusion and welcoming differences shines through in such a clever way that readers almost won't notice it. Zombelina delights with her confidence and acceptance of herself as well as her persistence. VERDICT This is a school story that could easily double as a Halloween selection. A first purchase wherever zombies are popular.--Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

"A good match for first-day jitters. . . . Caldecott Honor-winning Idle's art seems to glide and dance mischievously across the pages." - The New York Times

"Fans of both paranormal characters and ballet will like this." - Kirkus Reviews on ZOMBELINA DANCES THE NUTCRACKER

"Zombelina is a wonderful dancer, but it's really Idle who's superb—few others could make running jokes about detached limbs look this graceful. Crow's rhymes offer a similar blend of playfulness and gross-out humor." - Publishers Weekly on ZOMBELINA DANCES THE NUTCRACKER

"Spook lovers will grab the book . . . The strength of the book is the handling of overcoming stage fright." - Library Media Connection on ZOMBELINA

"Crow's rhyming text is ready-made for reading aloud. Idle's colored-pencil illustrations are bursting with details, facial expressions, wonderfully slightly spooky touches, and when appropriate, love. An unusually well-done mix of Halloween, dance, and family that's sure to please many youngsters." - School Library Journal on ZOMBELINA

"If Dr. Frankenstein, Tim Burton, or Charles Addams had tried to create a picture-book protagonist, it might have been Zombelina . . . An especially funny horror story with a warm message in its unbeating heart." - Booklist on ZOMBELINA