Mona the Vampire (book)
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Products | Children's books |
Mona the Vampire is a children's book authored and illustrated by Sonia Holleyman, initially released in 1990 by Orchard Books. This title marked the beginning of the Mona the Vampire series and served as the foundation for the YTV animated show sharing the same name. The narrative centers on a young girl named Mona and her feline companion, Fang, who enjoy pretending to be vampires inspired by their love for eerie stories.
Plot
After hearing a spooky bedtime tale from her father, Mona becomes enthralled and decides to transform into a vampire overnight. The following day, she and Fang craft vampire costumes and immerse themselves in imaginative role-play, with Mona’s mother enhancing the experience by preparing themed dishes such as "batwing soup."
At school, Mona brings her own lunch and enthusiastically shares her vampire fascination, which leads to her feeling isolated from classmates. She engages in playful mischief, including tying up other children during gym class. When Mona and Fang paint on classroom walls, the teacher summons the principal, who declares that "something must be done." Consequently, Mona begins ballet lessons intended to help her "calm down," but she incorporates vampire-inspired moves that frustrate the instructor.
While walking home through a nearby graveyard, a sudden storm unsettles Mona, reinforcing her spooky interests. Once home, her mother soothes them with hot chocolate before sending them to bed. That night, Mona experiences nightmares featuring witches and ghouls. By dawn, she resolves to give up her vampire obsession. The story concludes with Mona’s father introducing a new bedtime story about space invaders.
Reception
In 1991, Publishers Weekly characterized Mona the Vampire as a "droll debut," praising its lively, cartoon-style illustrations filled with imaginative visuals that captivate children between ages 4 and 9.
In 2007, Lynn Haddrall, editor of the Canadian regional paper Waterloo Region Record (formerly The Record), mentioned Mona the Vampire among books donated during a Books for Kids initiative, emphasizing its significance in offering reading material suitable for various age groups.