Vampiric Vacation

Reach for this book when your child feels like an outsider or is struggling with the absence of a caregiver. It is a perfect choice for siblings who need to see a model of sticking together when life feels unpredictable or spooky. The story follows the Sinister-Winterbottom twins and their older brother as they are dropped off at a mysterious, vampire-themed water park by an aunt they barely know while their parents are away on a mysterious 'business trip.' While the setting is a Gothic mystery filled with puns and eccentric monsters, the emotional core focuses on the children processing their feelings of being left behind. It normalizes the anxiety of not knowing where parents are while celebrating the agency and bravery of children. The tone is delightfully macabre but consistently humorous, making it an excellent bridge for middle-grade readers who enjoy a 'spooky-lite' aesthetic without genuine terror.