BORIS AND BELLA

As "the messiest monster in Booville," Bella Legrossi naturally feuds with her fastidiously tidy neighbor, vampire Boris Kleanitoff. Both throw Halloween bashes, and neither invites the other. But the town's monster elite shuns the pair of them, attending Harry Beastie's party instead. Bella and Boris arrive at Harry's in a huff, seeking the host who snubbed them. Disdainful of the "maggot muffins" and a game of "bobbing for eyeballs," the two unexpectedly find "boo" love on the dance floor. Crimi's (Don't Need Friends ) corpse-fresh text ("Halloween night soared in on bat wings") and Grimly's (Gris Grimly's Wicked Nursery Rhymes ) fiendish visual details make an equally pleasing pair. Ages 4-7 (Sept.)