Dracula

by Stephanie Spinner, Jim Spence, Bram Stoker (Original Author)

Tales of vampires have long haunted folklore and literature, but none has had the same impact as Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. Since the book's publication in the late 19th century, the blood-sucking Count has been seized on as the ultimate vampire, encountered by children of all ages in innumerable books, films, and television shows.

Genres: Fiction, Horror, Supernatural

96 pages, Library Binding

Published May 24, 2005

About the author

I was born in Davenport, Iowa, and grew up in Rockaway Beach, New York. I read straight through my childhood, with breaks for food, sleep, and the bathroom. I went to college in Bennington, Vermont, moved to New York City, and took a job in publishing so I could get paid for reading. I read so much bad fiction that I needed a break, so I moved to London, and from there I traveled to Morocco, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan India, Nepal, and Ceylon. I came back to America, wandered around some more -- to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize -- and on returning to New York decided to study Tibetan Buddhist painting (called thangka painting) in Boulder, Colorado.

I painted thangkas for many years. Each one took anywhere from several weeks to a few months to complete, and at long last I understood that this was not the ideal way for me to make a living. Only a few hundred Americans collected thangkas, and they wanted old ones, painted by Tibetan monks. It was time to make a change.

So I took another publishing job, this time in children’s books. I found that I liked children’s books a lot, and before long, I became an editor.

Years passed. I was encouraged to write. I scoffed at the idea that I had anything to write about. I edited some wonderfully talented authors -- Virginia Hamilton, Philip Isaacson, Clyde Robert Bulla, Gloria Whelan, Robin McKinley, Joan Vinge, Garth Nix, and Chris Lynch, among others -- with great enjoyment. Writing seemed like torture by comparison.

Then, to my amazement, I found myself writing a book and having a good time -- simultaneously! The book was ALIENS FOR BREAKFAST, and I enjoyed writing it because my co-author was Jonathan Etra. Jon (who died of heart disease in 1990) was a close friend with a wild sense of humor, and collaborating with him changed my opinion of writing forever. After ALIENS FOR BREAKFAST, and ALIENS FOR LUNCH, which we also co-wrote, I began to think that writing could be interesting fun.

And now that I’ve been doing it full-time for more than ten years, I can tell you why I like it better than a job. First, I can work in my bathrobe. (To the FedEx man and the UPS man, I am "the woman in the plaid flannel robe.") Second, I can eat when I’m hungry, choose when to take phone calls, and walk my dogs any time. Third, the only meetings I have -- and they’re short -- are with the dry cleaner and the post office ladies. Fourth, I can read whatever I please. I may tell people I’m doing research when I read about horse-trekking, or hunting in ancient Greece, or 16 ways to better compost, but the truth is, I’m not doing research, I’m having a good time. Which I think is still allowed.

Reviews

[Arctic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series of chapter books for early readers wanting high interest stories.

[Olivia B. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this was the real Dracula but with pictures. Honestly it is pretty good if I thought it was the real Dracula. 2-stars because it is a children’s book in hindsight. Now I’m ready for big-girl dracula

[Diana Achter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adapted for a younger audience. I had checked out this one thinking it was the original. Discovered it wasn’t, so checked the original from Libby. But I read this one as well.

[Nik Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had this book when I was around 8. It was the same book, but a different cover. I loved it then and I love it now.

[Lightsey]

I remember a girl on the bus in middle school reading this book. Apparently that's when you should, because as an adult I just can't take Dracula seriously. Pace Joan Acocella (writing in The New Yorker), this is ridiculous. It analyzes itself. . . Van Helsing is so clearly Stoker's Mary Sue. . . and there's all that goo about the blood of four strong men mixing in Lucy--which Dracula of course slurps right up--and later they'll have to impale him. . . trace the relations! I mean, it's silly.

[Zeyu · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is good book, it is about vampire. Although it is about vampire, it is interesting story. Now I am reading.....

[Diosanubiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great book, short and easy to read. Everybody could read it almost three days

[Abdulaziz Nasser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always loved the Dracula story, this version isn’t bad at all, somehow it’s a short version of the original Dracula story. But I liked it.

[maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spooky thriller full of twists and turns! This classic book is sure to send shivers up your spine and stay there until the end of this book. I personally hope Dracula never returns!

[Chelsea]

Good God this is a terrible adaptation. I'm glad I read it before trying to use it in class like I was hoping...

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy and quick read with the main plot points of Dracula. It was entertaining and I enjoyed the art work. I would definitely recommend this to others!