Zombelina is that rare book that takes a potentially scary concept (zombies!) and makes it genuinely charming without losing all its edge. It's not saccharine—there are still groans and moans and bats—but it's never frightening.

The stage fright storyline gives it more substance than your average Halloween picture book, and the message about being different is handled with a light touch. Kids who love dance will especially connect with it, but you don't need to be a ballerina to enjoy watching Zombelina moonwalk with mummies.

At over a decade old (2013), it still feels fresh because the zombie-ballet mashup was original then and remains charming now. The illustrations do the heavy lifting—Molly Idle makes Zombelina adorable enough that even monster-averse kids will likely warm to her. This is a solid addition to your Halloween or dance-themed reading rotation, though it won't blow anyone's mind. It's just really, really pleasant.