The Vampire's Curse (Secrets of Dripping Fang, Book 3) [Hardcover]

Dan Greenburg (Author), Scott M. Fischer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

In an astounding turn of events, the Shluffmuffins twins' long-lost father has reappeared years after his tragic Porta Potti accident. Wally and Cheyenne, of course, are thrilled to see their dear old dad again. But would it be rude to point out how his skin appears to be rotting and falling off in chunks? Or that his breath smells distinctly like bloated roadkill? Come to think of it, he looks an awful lot like . . . well, a zombie. So imagine the twins' delight when they discover that their friend Professor Spydelle has developed a special life-restoring elixir, the only known cure for zombiism.

Hmmmm. Unfortunately, it seems there are still some kinks to work out on that special Elixir of Life. It cures Dad of his zombiism, only to turn him into . . . a vampire.

It would seem that things couldn't get much worse. But when two faces that look suspiciously like giant ants appear in Wally and Cheyenne's bedroom window one night, things take a turn from dismal . . . to dire.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Shluffmuffin children are thrilled that their father is no longer dead, but they are disappointed to discover that he has returned as a zombie. Their newly adoptive dad, Professor Spydelle, convinces the zombie dad to drink an elixir of life. Unfortunately, the Shluffmuffin's have new fears, as the potion turns their zombie dad into a vampire dad. In addition to that, the Shluffmuffin children discover that the two giant ants in their neighborhood have concocted a scheme to enslave the entire human race. Can the young Shluffmuffins prevent the dangerous ants from taking over the earth? Can they prevent their dad from biting their necks and help to turn him into a regular dad? Although the premise is exciting, you will not find the answers to these questions in this book. This book is entertaining, fast paced, and funny, but there is not an ending. You will need to read the next book in the series to, hopefully, learn the conclusion. Some readers won't mind this but others may feel cheated. This is book three in the "Secrets of Dripping Fang" series. Dan Greenburg is also the author of the popular "Zack Files" series. 2006, Harcourt, Ages 8 to 12. (Children's Literature -Denise Daley )

About the Author

DAN GREENBURG is the creator of the enormously popular Zack Files series of middle grade novels as well as the author of a number of bestselling adult books, the best-known of which is How to Be a Jewish Mother. He lives in New York.

SCOTT M. FISCHER has illustrated many book jackets and also created art for Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. He lives in upstate New York.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (March 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152054693
• ISBN-13: 978-0152054694
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Greenburg has known success as a humorist, a novelist, a journalist, a screenwriter, and a playwright. Now he has turned his considerable talent to writing an original new series of books for a younger audience. Inspired by his own son Zack, for whom the hero of his new series, The Zack Files, is named, Greenburg has combined his love of humor, his interest in things paranormal, and his talent for writing to create books that kids like Zack will want to read. With 18 books to his credit, Dan Greenburg's work has been translated into 19 languages and is available in 22 countries. His best-selling titles for adults include How to Be a Jewish Mother, How to Make Yourself Miserable, Scoring, Love Kills, How to Avoid Love and Marriage and Exes. His previous books for children include Young Santa, The Bed Who Ran Away From Home, Jumbo the Boy and Arnold the Elephant. His articles have appeared in the New Yorker, Esquire, Ms., Time, Newsweek, Life, New York magazine, Cosmopolitan, the New York Times Book Review, Vanity Fair, Playboy, and have been reprinted in 33 anthologies of humor and satire in the United States and England. Born and raised in Chicago, Dan Greenburg received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Illinois, and his M.A. from UCLA. He is the father of Zack, a teenage son, who played the title role in the motion picture, LORENZO'S OIL, and served as the inspiration for The Zack Files. Mr. Greenburg lives in Westchester County, New York.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Fun, May 9, 2007

By 

drebbles (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: The Vampire's Curse (Secrets of Dripping Fang, Book 3) (Hardcover)

After going through some difficult times, including being sent to live in an orphanage after the bizarre deaths of their parents, life seems to be getting better for Wally and Cheyenne Shluffmuffin. They're living with Professor Spydelle and his wife Shirley and they've even adjusted to the fact that Shirley is a giant spider. They're having a harder time accepting the fact that their father, who died in a porta potti accident, has returned and is now a zombie. Professor Spydelle thinks he has a potion that can bring their dad back to life, but instead turns him into a vampire (Spydelle should have known better since the last potion he used turned his human wife into a giant spider). Having a dad as a vampire causes all kinds of problems because as much as Wally and Cheyenne love their father, they don't want him drinking their blood. As if that wasn't bad enough, the Onts show up again, determined more than ever to take over the world, starting with Wally and Cheyenne. Wally and Cheyenne try to explain to the FBI that giant ants are threatening to invade, but things go disastrously wrong and Wally and Cheyenne are forced to face the Onts on their own.

The Secrets of Dripping Fang series keeps getting funnier and funnier and book three "The Vampire's Curse" is extremely funny. The humor starts with a funny definition for zombies that you probably won't find in your encyclopedia and Professor Spydelle's eagerness to see a real zombie and continues from there. There's a humorous trip to a music store that also happens to sell viruses, a funny trip to the hospital when dad really needs some fresh blood and an equally funny trip to the FBI. There is humor to be found everywhere in the book, including the illustrations and chapter titles (chapter 3's title is especially funny). Other funny moments include dreams that Wally and Cheyenne have and a phone call from the Jolly Days Orphanage in which Hortense Jolly offers orphans at a discount price (the more you buy, the cheaper they are). Although the book is clearly meant for a young crowd, there are some nice bits of humor aimed at adults, including a quote from Dickens. Adults should be warned that there are some parts of the book that may be a bit scary for children. While the vampire and zombie parts are played for humor, the FBI's visit to the Onts may be too scary for younger children.

"The Vampire's Curse" is great fun.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy the frightening things that lurk in the night or day!, March 7, 2006

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vampire's Curse (Secrets of Dripping Fang, Book 3) (Hardcover)

Children between the ages of 8 and 12, particularly boys, have another offering from Dan Greenburg's Dripping Fang series. Book Three: Secrets of Dripping Fang: The Vampire's Curse is more of the things creepy, scary and funny that were introduced in books one and two.

The Shluffmiffin's father has returned, which is odd since he drown in a Porta Potti three years earlier. The twins, Wally and Cheyenne, are excited until they realize that as a result of the drowning, he has become a zombie.

When the twins learn that there is no cure for zombiism, they enlist the help of Professor Spydelle (with whom they are living). The professor has developed an elixir that should cure their father. But something terrible happens and dad becomes a vampire. Now THAT is a problem that needs solving.

Things are bad enough but become worse when the Mandible sisters appear once again. The twins could end up at the wrong end of the food chain. They escaped the Mandible sister's clutches before, but can they escape again?

Armchair Interviews says: This is another installment for kids that enjoy the frightening things that lurk in the night, sometimes in the day, sometimes outside their bedroom window or even in their bedroom.

5.0 out of 5 stars Dan Greenburg's got it going on!, June 4, 2010

By 

Mother (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vampire's Curse (Secrets of Dripping Fang, Book 3) (Hardcover)

My 8 year old daughter and I both love Dan Greenburg's books for kids. We read all the Zack file books, and are currently reading the Dripping Fang series. Hats off to the author. These books are entertaining, educational and fun to read. They have increased my daughter's fluency in reading, encouraged her to ask a lot of questions, and improved her reading level by leaps and bounds. Highly recommended. After reading all the Zack file books and most of the Dripping Fang books, it made me search for all books written by Dan Greeburg and am now ordering an adult book of his for myself. I anticipate the same wonderful writing style and humor. Would give anything to meet the real Zack and the real Dan Greenburg!