(2) K-3 Drago (Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, rev. 9/20; Leila, the Perfect Witch, rev. 9/22) presents another offbeat, sympathetic supernatural character overcoming insecurities. Fashionista vampire Vlad, while confident in his sartorial selections, is embarrassed by his rosy, non-vampiric cheeks that "made him look different from everyone else--so horribly alive." After stumbling on a friend's secret (big pink hair), he's able to appreciate and embrace what makes the two of them--and others--unique. The text is lighthearted, and the detail-filled mixed-media illustrations display energy--and style. Concurrently published in Spanish as Vlad, el vampirito fabuloso.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2023

(2) K-3 "Far and wide, Leila Wayward was known for being an extraordinary little witch." But despite her desire to win the Magnificent Witchy Cake-Off, Leila can't seem to master the Dark Arts of Patisserie like the other Wayward women. When she accepts help, tips, and tricks from her three older sisters, Leila is finally ready to compete...and has learned that having fun makes her feel like a winner no matter what. Drago's colorful mixed-media illustrations are full of interesting and funny details that complement her playful story, from the pictures on the front endpapers introducing her family to the décor in their gingerbread house to the not-so-scary creatures that inhabit Leila's witchy world. Concurrently published in Spanish as Leila, la bruhita perfecta.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2022

(2) PS Ghost Gustavo is terribly shy, a problem compounded by the fact that the other monster kids can't see him. His attempts to appear/appeal to the others--disguising himself as a lampshade, a surfboard, a sheet--are funny but hopeless; it's only when he throws a Day of the Dead party at the cemetery and reveals his passion for the violin that the other monsters come to see him as he really is. While the logic of the story won't stand up to much scrutiny, Gustavo is a sympathetic protagonist, and the illustrations are filled with appealing monsters and witty details.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020