• Age: 7 to 10
• Grade: 2 to 4

In the first book in the Sam and Friends Mystery graphic novel series, Dracula Madness, Jennie meets Samantha, the sheepdog belonging to her new next-door neighbors. No ordinary dog, Sam is a detective with a nose for sniffing out a mystery even in a small town as uneventful as Woodford. No ordinary girl, Jennie has a special connection with this dog -- Jennie can read Sam's thoughts. After Jennie and her friend Beth show Sam the creepiest house in town, the dog detective is on the case. The weird owner of the house, McIver, must be — Dracula. Who else would never go outside and never turn the lights on? Why else would bats be flying around his yard? This McIver definitely has something to hide. But is he really a vampire? Fueled by odd combinations of junk food, Sam's boundless energy and fertile imagination sometimes lead everyone a little astray. But even if the mystery turns out to be something less than mysterious, when Sam and friends are on the case, adventure is never far behind.

Mary Labatt is an editor and writer. She is the author of the Dog Detective Sam mystery series, the Sam and Friends graphic mystery novels, the Puppy Sam level one early readers and a novel called A Puppy is for Loving. With all these dog books you can guess what Mary does on her Clear Creek, Ontario farm. She breeds and raises Rough Collies and Welsh Springer Spaniels. In the picture you can see Mary with two of her collie mothers, Annabel and Chloe.

Mary Labatt's profile page

Jo Rioux was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. An artist from an early age, she was eventually drawn to children’s books, illustrating Swordquest for HarperCollins and the graphic novel series A Sam and Friends Mystery for Kids Can Press. Her love for the comic medium spurred her to author her first graphic novel series, Cat’s Cradle. She lives in the lush suburbs of her hometown, where, when not working at her drawing desk, she can be found nestled within a pile of books.

Jo Rioux's profile page

• Winner, Best Books for Kids & Teens, Canadian Children’s Book Centre
• Short-listed, K-6 Novels - Best Book Award, Society of School Librarians International

Rioux’s manga-influenced black-and-white illustrations will engage reluctant readers and graphic fans alike.

The presence of three intelligent, brave female characters will make this title appealing to girls.

The presence of three intelligent, brave female characters will make this title appealing to girls.

A nice choice for young mystery fans looking for graphic-novel options.

Rioux’s manga-influenced black-and-white illustrations will engage reluctant readers and graphic fans alike.

A nice choice for young mystery fans looking for graphic-novel options.

Dracula Madness (A Sam & Friends Mystery, Book One)

When Jennie meets her new next door neighbour’s dog, she quickly realizes that he’s no ordinary pet: Sam’s a canine detective who has the unique ability to understand everything Jennie says. Along with eating junk food and going for walks just like every other dog, Sam is always on the hunt for new adventures.

In this first installment of the Sam & Friends Mystery graphic novel series, Jennie investigates mysterious ol’McIver with the help of her friend Beth and Sam. McIver is a notorious recluse who lives in the spookiest house in Woodford. When Sam and Jennie notice a strange clicking sound coming from McIver’s house, they can’t help but wonder what he’s up to. Bats guard his property, he never turns on the lights in his house and he’s working on what appears to be a coffin… Could he be Dracula? All clues point to yes!

This graphic novel adaptation of Mary Labatt’s junior fiction novel Spying on Dracula takes readers on an adventure through the overactive imaginations of Jennie, Beth and Sam as they try to get to the bottom of the McIver case. Whether the girls and Sam are spying, researching or interviewing, readers will surely be captivated by every step of this adventure. Jo Rioux’s black and white illustrations will be a hit with younger readers who are new to graphic novels, as well as readers who are fans of manga.

This exciting tale is a great way to introduce younger readers to mysteries without subjecting them to the frightening moments or violence that might be found in mystery or detective fiction written for older readers. It turns out that Mr. McIver isn’t that scary after all… once you get to know him.

Dracula Madness (Sam & Friends Mystery)

Sam the dog’s new ten-year-old friend and dog walker, Jennie, can “hear” Sam’s thoughts. The duo find the ideal setting for a mystery adventure: the town’s spookiest house. The owner keeps the house dark and never lets anyone in. What could he be hiding? This first volume in the series is based on Labatt’s book, Spying on Dracula.