What happens when a vampire mistakenly eats a jam sandwich??
Fun ensues as the sandwich becomes a vampire jam sandwich in a constant search for more jam.

Delightfully illustrated and with a unique spin on vampires this picture book is a perfect addition for children during spooky season. A fun and joyous read for all ages.

The art work is dark tones but in a cutesy style. The pop of bright colors on a dark background makes for easy to identify focal points.
The story itself if humorous being the idea of a jam sucking sandwich is clever. Definitely good for kids that like monsters but not spooky or scary ones. The simple wording makes this book easy reading for children ages 3-5.

Vampire Jam Sandwich is totally delightful, and the perfect read for kids who don't want to get too spooked around Halloween. It's about a sandwich that gets turned into a vampire after being a bitten by a vamp who may think the jam is "something else" (this line truly made me chuckle) and ends up being so clever and silly that any adults who share this with young readers will also get a great kick out of it. The narrator is very funny and has a very distinct voice for a picture book, and I love that he has a little cat friend!

I also thought the illustrations in this were so cute. Slightly dreary, to fit the spooky story, with perfect pops of color to add to the fun of it all. I loved flipping through the pictures and felt that the narrator and the jam sandwich were spooky without being scary. Kids will get a kick out of both. This will be so fun for story times around Halloween, and if librarians are brave, they can even have kiddos make their own jam sandwiches.

This short story is filled with intrigue and mystery told by a nefarious narrator. Such a cute story that would be great around Halloween for all ages. My children loved this story and were delightfully surprised by the ending. The illustrations were brilliant and added to the humor of the story. We loved the illustrations of the Jam Sandwich while wreaking havoc in the kitchen. I cannot wait to see what the cover will look like.

*Thank you to Casey Lyall, Penguin Random House Canada | Tundra Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.

Cute and delightfully silly, with a genuinely fun little twist at the end. Love the illustrations too, from the vampire to the sandwich to the cluttered kitchen and secret box of jam!

Told like a scary story on an evening with only a flashlight for illumination, the legend of the Vampire Jam Sandwich details what happens when a vampire takes one bite of a jam sandwich. “And of course, you know what a bite from a vampire means,” author Casey Lyall writes. This offbeat picture book will delight readers of any age, but especially middle-grade readers who normally turn up their noses at picture books. (They’ll get the twist ending, whereas their younger sibs will not.) Nici Gregory’s edgy illustrations add just the right flavor to this humorous, tongue-in-cheek gem.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada and Tundra Books in exchange for an honest review.

A delightful follow-up to A Spoonful of Frogs! Author Casey Lyall delivers another hit with just the right amount of spooky alongside loads of silliness and laughs, Vampire Jam Sandwich will have kids holding their breath to learn more, before falling over with laughter by the end. I love how much story Lyall fits in with so few words. No doubt this will be loved by parents and kids alike.

The art is the perfect compliment with sepia tones adding to the spookiness and tension. Splashes of red strawberry jam give emphasis to the subject at hand. The characters are full of emotion, and fit the tone of the book in all the best ways, from spooky story-teller, to fearful listener. I loved the details in the art, that had me pausing on the pages to study the extra bits of storytelling hidden there.

I highly recommend this super fun book! (and thanks to Penguin Random House for giving me a advance look with the eARC in exchange for an honest review)

Very weird, and not in a great way. I like Casey Lyall's previous picture book, A Spoonful of Frogs, but this one did not leave much of an impression.

Cute picture book with illustrations that really fit the story. We learn about the horrific Vampire Jam Sandwich and what to do to keep it at bay. It felt like there was something missing in the story, but overall a picture book where the illustrations fit the story well and give us some horror for younger kids!

This book is a silly and unique idea on the vampire concept. The last time I read a unique vampire retelling was bunnicula.
This story keeps it just enough creepy to keep you on your toes. The art work fits perfectly with the them.
Very kid friendly but with a bit of a spooky twist. Perfect book to “Jam” out to for Halloween.

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this advance reader copy!

Vampire Jam Sandwich is an illustrated children’s book were we learn that Terrance the vampire has taken a bite out of a jelly sandwich and now the sandwich wants more jam. The illustrations are adorable! I love the color scheme throughout the book and the character design is just as cute. I love the story and how easy it is to follow for younger readers, and the touch of spooky is so fun!

Thank you, Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley, for this ARC of Vampire Jam Sandwich written by Casey Lyall and illustrated by Nici Gregory. OMG! When I logged onto NetGalley and saw that Casey Lyall had written a new cute, creepy book for children, I knew I had to get my hands on it!! If you have not already read Casey Lyall's other book, A Spoonful of Frogs, you must read it! It is one of my favorite Halloween books to read to my students during October!

This book has such a thought-out concept that it is hilarious and intriguing. It feels similar to the story Creepy Carrots and the others in that series, which I am a huge fan of as well. I mean, a Vampire Jam Sandwich is just pure genius! I love how a young boy and his pet cat tell the story of this Jam Sandwich and how to protect your jam from this monster. But a fun twist of events happens within this story that I do not want to spoil! I wanted to add that I absolutely loved the illustrations that went along with this story; the shading and lighting in this book help direct your eye to focus on different parts of the page, which I think makes the book more spooky and really captures the reader's interest.

Side note: The book also reminded me of The Boxtrolls film, which gives off the same creepy, magical, mischievous vibes from the characters in this story! I loveeee that!

The story is told as if you were sitting around a campfire sharing ghost stories. This could be a fun and lighthearted way to share somewhat scary stories (for kids) with your students or your own children without scaring them. I think this could lead to some fun conversations regarding items that students may have never thought about being creepy until now. Or even creating a lesson or activity with the question, "If you created a scary story for kids, what would it be about? Remember that a children's scary story is not to scare them but maybe give them goosebumps." Or "If you were to have a monster in your home, what item would it be? What would be its monster power or ability?" I think these prompts could be a fun way to get students involved in the spirit of Halloween and have a fun display with illustrations made by the students with their stories below!

Clearly, my mind is running with ideas from this book! I loved it and look forward to reading it with my students. I think my students across many grade levels will adore this story! I believe this could be the next big children's book!

This review is based on an ARC.

This was a cute story. I love vampires so this twist on both the classic vampire tropes and peanut butter and jelly was divine. It is a fun story to read around the holiday season and beyond. My son and I enjoyed reading it together a few times.

I received an ARC from NetGalley…

This is a very simple books. The graphics are cool and fun to look at. The story needs just a bit more for me but gets the job done for what it is.

I definitely recommend it for kids that like vampires but don’t suggest it for kids who love peanut butter and jam sandwiches. (Depending on their age, it may change their mind.)

Vampire Jam Sandwich by Casey Lyall is a cute and clever book with fun illustrations by Nici Gregory. Kids who like a little bit of spookiness and a whole lot of humor in their stories will be sure to love this tale of an older boy telling a younger girl about a vampire who sucks all the jam out of sandwiches. Nici Gregory used a limited palette to great effect here. Text and illustrations work well together, creating a slightly scary atmosphere for a laugh out loud story, perfect for Halloween or any time of the year.

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this one on title alone! The illustrations are neat - mostly sepia tones with bright reds (for the jam!). The legend goes that one night, a vampire snuck into a kitchen and ate a jam sandwich…he probably thought the jam was something else, but that one bite from a vampire created a VAMPIRE jam sandwich! And it stalks the night, looking for more jam to eat. This is super cute, and it of course has a little twist at the end that older kiddos will appreciate. Not great for storytime, but might be fun for a Halloween school visit.

5 stars

Few things bring this reader more joy than a charming picture book, but a picture book with a dash of horror?! Well. That may just be unbeatable.

Readers learn an important and moderately horrifying historical tale of a jam sandwich that is minding its own business when a young vampire mistakes that vibrant strawberry jam for a different substance and takes a bite. We all know what happens to those who survive a vampire bite...

This is an extremely charming book with a riveting story, adorable while sinister images, and age-appropriate horror, which I hadn't even considered an option prior to this experience.

Having taught children's literature at the college level for a couple of decades, I'm pretty accustomed to picture books with MESSAGES, and while this one does not necessarily deliver in the same way as many of its contemporary counterparts in this respect, it does come through with many high notes.

This was a blast to read, and I can't wait to recommend it to students (and buy a copy for in-class entertainment).

This book is Fangtastic‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️

I love the illustrations being detailed with a little creep factor. The characters (narrator) was whimsical with a dash of suspense, and the storyline was to bite for. I also loved the idea of introducing young children to not scary spooky stories to Amp their interest in reading. I absolutely recommend this book to all ages, including the young at heart or vampire lovers.

Whats a vampire to do if he wants strawberry jam? Well find out now! This was such a charming and sweet story about a vampire who craves strawberry jam and his advice for anyone who wants to avoid the vampire jam sandwich that is going to steal all your jam! Its a cute read and the art was adorable.

Release Date: June 24,2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada | Tundra Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

If you love silly/goofy picture books about vampires then this book is perfect for you! Vampire Jam Sandwich is perfect for reading to little ones and I can’t wait to order it for work so I can read it for story-time!
If you’re a surprise/guest reader for an elementary school, a children’s librarian, or even just the parent/guardian of a kid and are reading a bedtime story this is going to be perfect for you.