Moth the Veggie Vampire by Dotty Sutton – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: immortality, found family, vampires, friendship.
Children’s book title: Moth the Veggie Vampire.
Children’s authors: Dotty Sutton.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Puffin.
ISBN: 9780241768549.
Recommended for children aged: 7-9.
First published: Paperback October 2026.
This children’s book is ideal for: : introducing younger readers to gothic fiction in a humorous way. It could also be used to begin discussions on bullying, loneliness, and personal growth.
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Our review:
Timothy Hawthorne is nine years old. He’s been that age for almost 200 years and is never going to get any older. Known by everyone as Moth, he keeps the family hotel, Hawthorne Manor, spic and span, which is no mean feat as there are some seriously disgusting chores he is expected to do daily! This is because, of all the vampires who live there, he is the only one who can tolerate daylight. Moth, you see, is only half-vampire! So, no flying, sucking blood or super speed and strength. Instead, he walks everywhere, is a vegetarian and is quick but definitely not strong!
Every night, with his best friend Biscuit, who is a bat, he makes everything ready for his Aunty Gwen and the rest of the proper vampires to have a good night roaming the hotel’s corridors before hurrying to his room to play video games and get a good night’s sleep. At least that’s what he used to do before he opened the front door one evening to a group of unhappy children on a school trip. Children aren’t allowed at Hawthorne Manor, mainly because they’re likely to get eaten! One of them, Mina, is a revelation to Moth. She is excitable, fun to be around and a great problem solver. Before long, they are working together to keep everyone, even her teacher, safe!
With a bully of a vampire called Vlad the Lad determined to be the one who eats Mina, the two friends try to keep out of his way, but Moth’s 200th Bite Day celebrations are about to start. He still has chores to do, and Mina is about to go home, leaving him alone and scared again. Things have to change, and there is only one half-vampire who’s up to the job. At least he might be if he had a plan!
Our verdict:
Moth the Veggie Vampire is such a fun read, but it has a message you don’t really realise is there until Moth’s life begins to improve. Although it isn’t explicitly explained, both Moth and Mina are outcasts: Moth because he’s a vampire, so any human friends and relatives grow older and move on, while Mina, who has diabetes and lives with her grandma, feels different from her peers. Becoming friends with Mina changes Moth’s life, and the author shows how his evenings are now full of love and laughter, while Mina doesn’t let her illness define her or let the fact that her new friend has a pet bat and a favourite bedbug faze her at all!
Vlad picks on Moth because Moth is different and Aunty Gwen’s favourite. Until Mina’s arrival, no one helped him feel he could stand up to the bullies, but Mina’s acceptance of him makes him change his view of himself, and when it comes down to dealing with Vlad, Moth finally realises he isn’t as alone as he’d thought.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Moth works hard every day, and the various creatures he helps like him, but he doesn’t realise it. Why do you think that is?
- Spending your days alone must get very lonely. Would you choose Biscuit the bat or Gary the Venus flytrap to be your best friend? Or maybe you would prefer one of the bedbugs or Princess Bubblicious?
- Having someone to spend time with makes Moth much more confident until he gets the invitation to his 200th Bite Day party. What would you dress up as at such short notice for such a special occasion?
- In a cross-curricular art activity, design a poster illustrating all the different things you would want at your big birthday bash. Remember, you are a half-vampire, so you can have all sorts of cool activities on the floor, up in the ceiling space and even under the big table where the banquet was held.
- Mina couldn’t eat lots of sugar to disgust Vlad and his gang because she is diabetic. Do you know why this is?
- After Aunty Gwen discovers what Vlad was up to, things begin to change for Moth. How successful do you think Hawthorne Manor’s new business will be? Will you read Book 2 to find out?
Many thanks to Puffin for the review copy.
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