Hogula : Dread Pig Of Night

Brought to life by the comical, exaggerated illustrations of Jean Gralley (And Twelve Chinese Acrobats), this particular vampire pig can send anyone who's up past bedtime into a "deep, snoring, piggie-snoozie snooze" with just a snort from his snout. But Hogula has a problem: this fangful hog has no friends. Sure, his two servants Igoretta ("Pleasure, I'm sure") and Chad ("Uhhhhhhh") and several hundred thousand bats keep him company in his garbage-filled castle atop Grimy Pork Chop Hill. But he doesn't have a friend to talk with, to play with, to--"except for his bats"--hang with. That all changes when he takes a trip to the mall on Halloween night, decked out in his vampire best and triple-flipping to the delight of all in sight. A lone red-cloaked figure spots Hogula and understands his friendless plight; this little girl is so weird she just might be Hogula's perfect match.

Not quite the inspired hilarity of anything by Jon Scieszka or Dav Pilkey, but a worthy, wacky writing debut for illustrator Gralley, good for more than a few bedtime snorts. (Ages 4 to 8) --Paul Hughes