31 May 2011 ZOMBIE IN LOVE by Kelly DiPucchio and Scott Campbell, ill, Atheneum, August 2011, 32p., ISBN: 978- 1-4424-0270-6 

"Turn your heartache right into joy

Cause she's a girl and you're a boy"

-- Stephen Stills, "Love the One You're With"

When Tony Bennett sang about leaving his heart in San Francisco, he didn't mean it literally.  But if you can get a kick out of imagining him having done so (literally), you're on your way to appreciating the wealth of hilarious sight gags -- many involving detached body parts -- in which the very cute picturebook, ZOMBIE IN LOVE, is immersed.

ZOMBIE IN LOVE is the story of Mortimer, a zombie who is looking for that special person with whom to share the evening at Cupid's Ball.

In his quest for love, he follows the advice of books, such as taking his (falling apart) dog for a walk in the park; working out at the gym; taking ballroom dancing lessons; and even placing a classified ad:

"TALL, DEAD, & HANDSOME

If you like taking walks in the graveyard

and falling down in the rain.

If you're not into cooking,

if you have half a brain.

If you like waking up at midnight,

horror films, and voodoo,

then I'm the guy who you've looked for

and I'm dying to meet you."

But, alas, he ends up having to go to the Ball alone, where he waits by the punch bowl, totally freaking out every girl who approaches until, at the end of the evening...when all seems lost...and it strikes midnight...

There is suddenly a happy ending in sight.

This is a tale that is guaranteed to raise a smile. 

Richie Partington, MLIS
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