ZOMBIE IN LOVE 2 + 1

Zombie couple Mildred and Mortimer find a live baby on their doorstep. Although happy to be parents, taking care of a new baby often scares them to death.

DiPucchio uses a deadpan tone to recount the couple’s stressful transition into parenthood. “Having a baby wasn’t what they expected. / Sonny was a fussy eater. His teeth were coming in instead of falling out.” The young boy keeps them up all day while sleeping through the night. No matter what they do, the baby seems happy—which completely troubles them. Campbell’s watercolor illustrations show gray-green scenes full of comic and faux-gory touches. Small, friendly worms cavort around the smiling baby, who plays with a train made of brains. Fretful that the baby is not well—he hardly ever cries!—Mildred and Mortimer take Sonny to a doctor, who pronounces the baby to be quite healthy. Finally, a growing Sonny tries to liberate himself from his crib and falls out. He erupts into tears and wails. His parents’ reaction? “ ‘Do you hear that, dear?’ Mortimer asked, beaming with pride. ‘It’s positively terrifying!’ ” Soon they are all smiling…and the final close-up shows all three with wide, gap-toothed grins.

Rare is the entertaining story that has equal appeal at Valentine’s Day and Halloween. Share with a slightly older audience who will fully appreciate the silly yet wonderfully gross details.