OK, book world, I get it – zombies are this year’s vampires. Really, now it’s bordering on overkill.

I mean, 501 Things to Do with a Zombie? The book aims to be funny with the occasional blood-spattered page, but mild amusement can only sometimes be found in the illustrations on every other page. Seriously, the whole book is just a list of things to do that includes activities like “call tech support,” “double dip” or “pogo stick” that would be just as funny if you replaced the word “zombie” with the word “carrot.”

Maybe it’s just me, but I assumed there would be more narrative, maybe a breakdown of what to do with your zombie and how to do it. Is it really too much to ask that the author spend a little more time being clever instead of just thinking up random things to do? I mean, I’m sure you don’t want to write 501 pithy paragraphs about what it would be like to do things like “floss” with your zombie, but really? Really?

Grade: D-



501 Things to Do with a Zombie will be available July 31.