Finalist for the 2016 Animal Behavior Society's Outstanding Children's Book Award

2017 Red Maple Non-Fiction Award finalist

On the Fall 2016 edition of the CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens

Most people hear the word "vampire" and they think of shady, nocturnal characters with capes and pointed teeth. But that's all pretend...right? Wrong! Blood-thirsty creatures are real -- but not in the ways you might be imagining them! In fact, there are trillions of vampires creeping, crawling, swimming, buzzing and even flying among us. Whether they are the fleas that love your pets as much as you do, the bedbugs that snuggle in with you at night, the lampreys that eat your fish dinner before you do, or the seemingly innocent butterflies that flutter above, these vampires come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and species.

Bloodsucking creatures are known for their irritating habits. They pierce your skin, drink your blood, and sometimes spread diseases. They range from highly annoying to deadly. It's difficult to love them, but these hungry critters are a necessity in our global ecosystems and they can even be beneficial.

Filled with fascinating and sometimes gory information, full-color photos, interactive activities, and educational diagrams and charts, Bite into Bloodsuckers is sure to get under your skin and run through your veins!

Read more about: Why bloodsuckers crave blood Types of real-life vampires Where bloodsuckers live and breed Lifecycles of different blood-thirsty creatures Dangers and fears of bloodsuckers Benefits of vampire creatures-both environmental and medical How to protect yourself from nasty bites

Kari-Lynn Winters is an author, poet, and performer. She is Assistant Professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario, where she teaches drama-in-education. She is the author of Buzz About Bees.

Ishta Mercurio is a freelance writer, homeschooler, web series creator, and video blogger. She has lived in the United States, England, and Scotland, and now makes her home in Ontario, where she is obsessed with filming bugs. This is her first published book.