DRACULA AND FRANKENSTEIN ARE FRIENDS

Dracula and Frankenstein reside "in two side-by-side houses, in a town where all of the houses are spooky." Tegen, a children's book editor who has previously published pseudonymously, depicts Frankenstein as a sweet, shy fellow and Dracula as calculating but contrite. Over lunch at their favorite hangout, where Drac sips a glass of red (labeled by blood type), Frankenstein plans a Halloween bash. Not to be outdone, Drac throws a party, too—and "somehow" Frankenstein's outbound invitations disappear from his mailbox (a pair of pictures shows Dracula in his cape, eyeing the envelopes awaiting pickup, and then Dracula as a bat, flying away with the envelopes in his clutches). Cushman (Inspector Hopper) creates lively watercolors in a benign style, throwing in clever visual details like Drac's "Velcome" mat to keep readers on their toes. Ages 3-8. (Aug.)