Vunce Upon a Time

by J. Otto Seibold, Siobhan Vivian

Dagmar is not like other vampires. He's shy, he's afraid of humans, and . . . he's a vegetarian! But even more than he likes vegetables, Dagmar loves candy. And when he hears about all the treats he can get on Halloween, he knows he has to be brave and venture out into the human world. A wonderful new book from the author and illustrator of Olive, the Other Reindeer .

Genres: Picture Books, Halloween, Childrens, Vampires, Holiday, Fiction, Humor

40 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2008

About the author

American artist and children's book creator. With no formal art training, he was able to sneak into the art world during the "outsider art" craze of the 1990s. His book Mr. Lunch Takes a Plane Ride, published by Viking in 1993, was the first children's picture book to be created with digital media. His 1997 book Olive, the Other Reindeer led to an animated television special of the same name.

His art has been shown at Mass MOCA, Deitch Projects NYC, The Getty LA, Contemporary Jewish Museum SF, Grass Hut Portland, MOCA LA, The Yerba Buena Center for the Arts SF, Gallery Paule Anglim SF, Oakland Museum CA, Juxtapoz Gallery Detroit, and Galerie Impare in Paris. He has done freelance illustration for years including clients such as Nike, Time Warner, Girl Skateboards, Pixar, Comcast, Giant Robot, Target, TiVo, 826 Detroit, Quaker Oats, Fox Entertainment, Gnu Skateboards, Swatch, and Nordstrom.

His book Penguin Dreams was named a New York Times "Best Illustrated Book". Mr. Lunch Takes a Plane Ride won a Cuffie Award from Publisher's Weekly; Mr. Lunch won for most memorable character in a lead role. Going to the Getty won an Art Directors Club Illustration Award. Olive, the Other Reindeer was a New York Times Bestseller and the movie version was nominated for an Emmy Award.

James has three children and resides in Oakland, California.

Reviews

[Mariah Roze · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best Halloween Children's books that I have ever read! The pictures came a live! They were awesome. My students lovedddddd this book!

[Set · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a story about a vegetarian vampire that likes candy. He goes trick or treating to get a yearly supply of candy and makes a friend that could bloom into something more towards the end of the book. The story is cute and the illustrations are very spooky.

[WitchyFingers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet story with fantastic art. I can't wait to read this to my nephew!

[Dollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children's Book about a little vampire boy who goes trick or treating and sees something scary - a girl.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vunce Upon A Time is all sorts of adorable. This unique picture book pairs Siobhan Vivian's brilliant illustrations with a story from one of my favorite authors, J. Otto Seibold. If you haven't had a chance to dive into any of Siebold's other stories I'll give you a quick sum up. They are always quirky, always adorable, and always something you won't find anywhere else. That's why I was so excited to meet Dagmar!

Dagmar's story is short and sweet. He's a vampire who just so happens to be a vegetarian! However, despite his love of leafy greens, his all time favorite snack is none other than candy. Happily, Halloween just so happens to be the perfect time to get tons of free candy! This story follows Dagmar as he tries to figure out how to make his Halloween night a big success, without running into any scary humans. What is one little vampire to do?

Reading a book to kindergartners is always a worry for me. It has to hold their attention really well or they'll be antsy within minutes. Dagmar didn't disappoint! They fell in love with his silly story, and were extremely amused that he was afraid of humans. We had a great discussion about what being a vegetarian means, and even tied it in to learning about different types of vegetables. I would have liked to see a little more mention of that topic in the story, but it was just as adorable as is. After all, Halloween is all about the candy.

The illustrations are really what brought the story to life. Vivian's illustrations pop off the page and brought forth quite a few giggle sessions from the kids. The pages where Dagmar was debating on a costume had them howling with laughter! If I had to sum this book up in three words: fun, unique and cute. Never before have I met a vegetarian vampire, but Dagmar is definitely my kind of storybook character! I look forward to more of his adventures and I know that my kids do too!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love J. Otto Seibold's artwork and that is why I picked this book up. I used this book with my first grade students and they really enjoyed Dagmar the Vampire's first Halloween experience. The only issue that I have with the story is that Dagmar is portrayed to be a vegetarian in the beginning of the story and by page three the benefits of this lifestyle are tossed aside, as the remainder of the story is focused on candy. All in all, it is a fun story and Dagmar is a really cute vamp.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vunce upon a time is a fun new idea of vampires. Dagnar lived in an old black castle and he was different than other vampires, he loved vegetables. He even grew his own garden, but the vegetables took too long to grow. But he had another secret, he loved candy. Hev was down to one stale gummi wurm. His servant asked him why he was sad, he told him he was out of candy. His servant told him he could get free candy tomorrow night was Halloween. He flew for the first time and went to the stores, but he couldn't find one scary enough. He saw some garlic and thought that was scary enough. So he made his own costume, but his Mom told him to put it in the closet. After sleeping, he went to get his costume and a bunch of vampire moths flew out. They had eaten his costume. He was so mad he flew again, but he saw people in costume and knew he could be himself. He saw a ghost and asked how to get free candy, so they went trick or treating and after they had enough candy. The ghost took off her costume and Dagnar was scared of humans, and he ran away. The little girl was picking up his candy for him. Dagnar was so happy and he dreamed of -------!!! Read the book you will love it.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seibold, J. Otto and Siobhan Vivian Vunce Upon a Time. Chronicle Books, 2008. PICTURE BOOKS.

A young vampire is extremely fun of candy, but one day his stash runs out. A passing skeleton clues him in to the upcoming Halloween night. Dagmar enjoys his evening out with the ghost he met on the street, until the ghost takes off her costume, revealing a human underneath. Scared, Dagmar runs off and then the human proves herself to be a good friend.

This is a lovely little Halloween book. I love the funky illustrations from the man whose work you might remember from Olive, The Other Reindeer. And Dagmar is an endearing vampire.

EL - ESSENTIAL. Cindy, Library-Teacher.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halloween story about a vegetarian vampire who loves to eat candy more than anything. His friends tell him about a night when everyone dresses in costumes and gets a lot of candy. He decides to try. Unfortunately, his garlic costume is eaten by moths but he discovers that he can go as himself. He meets a "ghost" and has a wonderful evening - until he learns that she's actually a human. By the end, he is back home dreaming about how things could be if they got along with others.

[Madison Harloff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy
Grades K-3
A unique feature about this book is the themes that you can pull out of the book. Although it may seem like a silly holiday book at first glance, I imagine pulling themes of friendship, healthy eating habits, being true to yourself and others out of this book!
Date Completed: October 31, 2018

[Cassidy Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a fun book to read around Halloween. It's about Dugmar's, a vegetarian vampire who also eats candy, adventure to get candy to eat while waiting for him crops to grow. He is afraid to go out, but finds his bravery and goes trick or treating.

[Ricarda Krenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book, but if reading it aloud, I would change Dagmar from a boy to a girl, since Dagmar is a girl's name, which the author doesn't seem to know. Other than that, very cute and rather funny.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because it is about vampires.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet Halloween friendship story about a vegetarian vampire.

[Mrs. Elliott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book for the Halloween season! My boys’ love it.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO CUTE! It’s about friendship & candy & being true to yourself.

[Haaley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a silly book. The illustrations were different and fun. And the story it self was just hilarious.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sadly too long for my preschoolers.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Halloween book about a vampire who loves candy. Perfect for preschool - elementary aged children. Fun and humorous for adults to read as well.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another 'monsters are scared of kids' theme. It was okay, but not great.

[Maki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book about a vampire wanting to go our trick or treating and making a new friend.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little vampire book.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully quirky and unique book for children. It is a vampire tale like no other. Dagmar is bit off for vampires; first he is only a child vampire, second he is a vegetarian and third he is addicted to Candy. Dagmar has problems growing vegetables by moonlight and tending his garden at night, but he supplements his diet with candy - in fact he is something of a candyholic. But his candy supply has run out. But then a skeleton informs him that tomorrow is Hallowe'en and humans give out Candy. Dagmar wants to go trick or treating but he must find a costume, convince his parents and overcome his fear of humans. It is a wonderful story with amazing illustrations.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.75

[Meredith]

The illustrations were unexpected

[Richelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

My daughter likes this book more than I enjoyed reading it to her...that's the important thing.

[Joenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dagmar is not like most vampires. He is very gentle and only eats vegetables and candy. One night, he realizes he is out of candy. How will he ever get more? Well his friends mention Halloween, so Dagmar decides to go out, but doesn't have a costume. When he tells his parents is going trick or treating, they are furious and forbide him to go. Dagmar gets so upset he turns into a bat and flies away. While on the town, he sees a costume shop and decides to be garlic. His parents finally agree to let him go out, but he realizes that zombie moths have eaten his costume. Again he flies out to town as a bat, and sees everyone trick or treating. He meets a human girl in a ghost costume and he turns back into a vampire. They spend the evening together getting candy. Dagmar is very happy with his new candy stash.

[Cindy Hipolito · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vunce Upon a Time by J. Otto Seibold - this is a book that I purchased for my grandson who just completed kindergarten; it is about a vampire youngster who is a vegetarian and wants to experience Halloween. He figures out what to do for a costume, where to go and meets a friend who shows him the ropes for that night; overall, it is a very delightful book and my grandson absolutely loves this book. We are on his 8th copy of this story. He has worn out the other copies because he was 3 when he got his first copy and then in earlier years from wear and tear because he would insist on his mom reading it repeatedly.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dagmar is a vegetarian and also.... a vampire. And his favorite thing of all to eat is candy. His stash is getting low and he allows himself to eat the stale candy... yuck! Someone mentions Halloween and he goes about making his costume, which is the scariest thing of all to a vampire... Garlic!! His parents screeched and allowed him to go Trick Or Treating. Time finally came and moths ate his rotten costume. So he decides to go as himself.
No one was afraid of him and the little ghost thought he had a great costume. Ahh! Young candy fueled love!
Freaking adorable. Being you is always the best policy.

[Bobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, it's more like 4.5 stars really but I'm rounding up because it's so quirky. Dagmar the vegetarian vampire loves candy but doesn't have enough; a problem most kids will relate to no doubt. Although he is terribly afraid of humans, he decides to go out on Halloween to try to get candy...and along the way he makes a new friend. The book is full of subtle positive messages for kids: vegetarianism, friendship between very different individuals, and even making candy last! Come to think of it, most adults can use these same messages too...