Zombiekins

Zombiekins

Written by Kevin Bolger

Illustrated by Aaron Blecha

J BOL

Who can resist the cutely creepy Zombiekins, the titular character of Kevin Bolger’s wacky new book? I couldn’t. When I saw the cover of Zombiekins, I knew I had to read it.

Stanley Nudelman and his friend Miranda are fourth-graders living in the town of Dementedyville. As the story opens, Stanley and Miranda are walking home from school when they see that the eccentric Widow Imavitch is having a yard sale. While perusing the items for sale, Stanley finds a toy called Zombiekins in its original packaging. The Widow Imavitch tells Stanley that Zombiekins is full of surprises and advises him to read the instructions on the back of the package. When Stanley purchases the “freaky” toy, the Widow Imavitch gives him a bag of taffy that might “come in handy.” Naturally, Stanley discards the package shortly after leaving without reading the instructions.

There is a full moon that night. When the moonlight shines into the playroom, Zombiekins comes to life

Stump!—scri-i-i-i-i-itch… Stump!—scri-i-i-i-i-itch… Stump!—scri-i-i-i-i-itch…

and attacks Stanley’s sister’s toys. Among these toys is Schlemmo, a “furry orange toy far too adorable to be called a monster.”

The next day Stanley takes Zombiekins to school. Mr. Baldengrumpy, Stanley’s teacher, shows a film called Our Neighbor, the Moon. The moonlight from the film awakens Zombiekins. He bites Stanley’s tattle-telling do-gooder classmate Felicity and escapes. Within hours, half the school has been transformed into Zombies. Stanley must find the courage he has never had before and find Zombiekins and figure out a cure for the Zombie plague before his teacher notices there is a problem and gives him detention.

Aaron Blecha’s illustrations fill in some gaps in the text. They also serve to clarify and even contradict the text. Bolger’s sense of humor can be rather sarcastic and understated, though the story is over-the-top in wackiness.

Zombiekins is a wacky spoof of the zombie genre. For instance, there is a scene where Stanley and Miranda are trapped in the teacher’s lounge trying to keep zombies from breaking in. Stanley is concerned about hiding in a room with only one way out. Miranda reassures him, “Oh they always find you. But trust me, this is just the way it’s done.”

Zombiekins is not for those who get grossed out easily. Nothing is too offensive, but this is a zombie book, so there are going to be some gross scenes here and there. The storyline starts to get repetitive towards the end. However, Zombiekins is an entertaining, ridiculous read. I will be reading the sequel when it comes out.

Recommended for fans of Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Bunnicula, and books by Daniel Pinkwater.

The video below is a trailer for the book Zombiekins

Reviewed by Margaret Ballard