We are approaching Halloween, and it’s time to find great read alouds for my classes.

This book absolutely grabbed my 4th and 5th graders’ attention this week.  I think lots of my students had heard of Dracula but never actually knew the story.  They were surprised that Transylvania really exists and had lots of questions about vampires, including whether they are real.  (Thank you, Twilight.)

This book recounts the Dracula story from the classic 1931 black and white film.  The next chapters include: a short biography of Bram Stoker, the author of Dracula; superstitions about vampires; the stories of the real Vlad Dracula and another ruler of  Transylvania, Countess Bathory (gruesome by the way); Vampires in Books and Films; and Vampire Bats.

I only read Chapter 1, the story of Dracula to my classes.  It was just the right length read aloud, about 10 minutes.  You could have heard a pin drop while I was reading.  My students loved it.  Several students asked if they could check out the book after I read it to them.

There is nothing like a good vampire story to get your older students ready for Halloween!  Enjoy.