Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery (Bunnicula)

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This immensely popular children's story is told from the point of view of a dog named Harold. It all starts when Harold's human family, the Monroes, goes to see the movie Dracula, and young Toby accidentally sits on a baby rabbit wrapped in a bundle on his seat. How could the family help but take the rabbit home and name it Bunnicula? Chester, the literate, sensitive, and keenly observant family cat, soon decides there is something weird about this rabbit. Pointy fangs, the appearance of a cape, black-and-white coloring, nocturnal habits … it sure seemed like he was a vampire bunny. When the family finds a white tomato in the kitchen, sucked dry and colorless, well … Chester becomes distraught and fears for the safety of the family. "Today, vegetables. Tomorrow … the world!" he warns Harold. But when Chester tries to make his fears known to the Monroes, he is completely misunderstood, and the results are truly hilarious. Is Bunnicula really a vampire bunny? We can't say. But any child who has ever let his or her imagination run a little wild will love Deborah and James Howe's funny, fast-paced "rabbit-tale of mystery." (Ages 9 to 12)

Book Description

BEWARE THE HARE!

Is he or isn't he a vampire?

Before it's too late, Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household -- a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits...and fangs!

Customer Reviews:

Excellent read aloud book.......2007-05-06

I remember being read this book by one of my teachers in elementary school and bought it for my husband to read to my six year old son. It was a big hit and we've read most of the other books in the series aloud, too.

Bunnicula .......2007-04-17

Hey do you like mysteries because I sure do. Here's a great book for beginning readers it's called Bunnicula A rabbit tale of mystery. Our setting is in a house on a dark stormy night when the family comes home from the movies. They wake up a dog named Harold and a cat named Chester and in the mothers arms there new pet bunny they call Bunnicula. Then some mysterious crimes happen. When the vegetables turned white Harold and Chester are suspicious about Bunnicula because. They think he's a vampire and Chester plans to get rid of him.
So he tries garlic and all the other stuff they hate but. Right now I have to stop because. I don't want to spoil it for you so I'll just let you do the reading and. Here are some very good reasons to read this book. One it has a great mystery theme to it. Two it's a two thumbs up book for it's suspense in each chapter. Three because it's just plain fun to read I have one more reason why to read this wonderful book and it's about. How much I liked it because it made me laugh and it made me want to read more and more and. I simply thought it was entertaining. So I think you should defiantly read this wonderful book so happy reading.

This is a book pretty good.......2007-04-14

The book Bunnicula by James Howel is about a juice thirsty rabbit that is a vegetable vampire and he drinks the juice out of the fruit or vegetables and will steal your heart as well as your vegetables. He will drink their juice till they loose their color and turn white. If you see Bunnicula he will look as cuddly as any other rabbit, but looks can fool. He will take your veggies, so kids might think that it's a dream come true until you find out he likes fruits too. If you like funny strange books, this might be a book for you because, it's so good I don't even have to tell you, if you like it, then you can read it and don't forget there is a whole series of these books!

Bunnicula Book Review.......2007-04-11

I really liked the book Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe. I liked it because Pete said things like, "Harold drooled on my foot" and Chester read a book called Finding Yourself by Screaming A lot. I think that kids should read this book.

A one-of-a-kind vampire tale that will give you goosebumps - accompanied by giggles!.......2007-01-26

Harold the dog and Chester the cat think that they're in for a relaxing night by the fireplace, sheltered from the rain pelting the windows outside, when they are most rudely interrupted by the beloved Monroe family (Mom and Dad Monroe, and their two sons, Toby and Pete). Sure, the Monroe's are wonderful people, but everyone knows that when a dog and a cat have finally settled down and gotten comfortable for the night, it is extremely rude to disturb them. Especially when what you're disturbing them with is an unexpected addition to the family in the form of a rabbit with fangs. Who just so happens to have black and white markings that resemble a cape, and who, oddly enough, was found at a Dracula movie. The family soon names the little bunny Bunnicula - combing the words Dracula and bunny to come up with something extremely ridiculous - and give him a home in a cozy cage, where he receives crispy vegetables everyday. However, Chester knows that there is something very peculiar about this particular rabbit. Not only is he nocturnal, spending each and every daylight hour fast asleep, and waking only once the moon is in the sky; but ever since Bunnicula arrived, all of the vegetables in the house - even the ones in the refrigerator - have begun turning white, the victim of having had their juices sucked out of them, much like the way Dracula sucks the blood out of his victims. Of course, Chester is the only one who seems to notice these occurrences, for not only is he well-read, he's taken on the personality of Sherlock Holmes, and is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, even if it kills him, or lands him in the doghouse.

When I was in grade school, my classmates went absolutely wild for James Howe's BUNNICULA books, yet I never even picked one up, opting to read R.L. Stine's FEAR STREET series, or various fairytale's. However, after reading HOWLIDAY INN about a year ago, I instantly fell in love with the characters of Harold and Chester, and wanted to read more about them - I am certainly glad that I did. Unlike Harold and Chester, Bunnicula does not speak throughout this gory tale, but it is quite evident that he understands everything going on around him, based solely on the fact that his facial expressions reveal just that, and illustrate how he expresses his emotions. Harold is a lovable, shaggy dog, whose determination to knock some sense into Chester, and save Bunnicula from his mad scientist ways are heroic; while Chester's bizarre antics, and well-read nature make him absolutely hilarious. Bunnicula, on the other hand, is a breed of vampire that will stick out in reader's minds forever, as he is unique, and extremely strange - in a lovable way. While we do not encounter the Monroe children very often, the few times they come into scenes, they are extremely compassionate, and will appeal to animal lover's; while their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe's inclusion of Chester, Harold, and even Bunnicula as family members is extremely refreshing and enjoyable. A one-of-a-kind vampire tale that will give you goosebumps - accompanied by giggles!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Average customer rating:

Cornwall, NY Sixth Grader
A pet hotel mystery
Cody's Review
Dogs cats and and a strange house
delightful

Howliday Inn (Bunnicula)
James Howe
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416928154

Book Description

Not a great place to visit, and you wouldn't want to live there

The Monroes have gone on vacation, leaving Harold and Chester at Chateau Bow-Wow -- not exactly a four-star hotel. On the animals' very first night there, the silence is pierced by a peculiar wake-up call -- an unearthly howl that makes Chester observe that the place should be called Howliday Inn.

But the mysterious cries in the night (Chester is convinced there are werewolves afoot) are just the beginning of the frightening goings-on. Soon animals start disappearing, and there are whispers of murder. Is checkout time at Chateau Bow-Wow going to come earlier than Harold and Chester anticipated?

Customer Reviews:

Cornwall, NY Sixth Grader.......2007-03-09

I am a sixth grader.

The story tells of Harold the dog and Chester the cat whose family, the Monroes, go on vacation without them. The family rabbit, Bunnicula, will stay with a neighbor. They are to be boarded with strangers at a place called the Chateau Bow Wow. Chester suddenly has a problem with the Chateau Bow Wow because its name says "run" in dog language. The Chateau Bow Wow is run by a veterinary student named Jill.

As soon as Harold and Chester are settled in to their bungalows (what people at the Chateau Bow Wow like to call cages) a french poodle named Louise has disappeared. Louise has been in love with a huge Bulldog named Max who wears a white sweater and Georgette another french poodle. Besides these at the Chateau Bow Wow is Lyle a cat who thinks he is a spy and is trying to get out of the Chateau Bow Wow. He comes to Harold with plans to go over the wall. Also there is Taxi, a mutt who idolizes Max and a pair of Dachshunds named Heather and Howard who speak as though they share one mind. Between their two bodies these two Wiener dogs howl at the moon. Their unearthly howling heard by Chester and Harold is thought to be the result of their being part werewolf.

When Louise dissapears Chester and Harold must become spies to try to find her. Chester ends up poisoned because he knows too much. Harold keeps reminding us that adventure is good for the soul. I hope you didn't like my report on the Howliday Inn by James Howe. If I were to give this book a rating I would give it half a howl. I hope my report does not make you want to read the Howliday Inn. -ET

A pet hotel mystery.......2007-02-07

I recommend this book because it's ... kind of like a mystery book and it's somewhat funny and somewhat suspenseful. The characters are the Monroes: Toby, Pete, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, Harold the dog and Chester the cat. The family is going on vacation, but since Harold gets car sick they decided to leave Harold and Chester at a four star pet hotel called Chateau Bow-wow. Neither Harold or Chester like Chateau Bow-wow. On their first night animals start to ... disappear. Chester jumps to conclusions and thinks that there's a murder. If you want to find out more check out Howliday Inn written by James Howe the author of Bunnicula.

Cody's Review.......2006-11-03

Yes I did like the book, because it was pretty exciting and sometimes funny. For example, when Louise gets kidnapped, you couldn't know what would happen next. It was funny when Harold was having a dream about seeing Chester and Chester woke him up and said the same thing.

Well it's about a dog named Harold and a cat named Chester. Their owners are going on a trip and they can't come so they go to an animal hotel called "Chateau Bow-Wow". Harold liked it but Chester doesn't. There is a bunch of animals there and they make friends with them. Then someone kidnapped Louise and they staged it like she ran away, but she didn't. Chester got kidnapped and Harold and all the other dogs and cats were looking for both Chester and Louise. They found out that Harrison (one of the people who works at Chateau Bow-Wow) kidnapped them because he heard that one of the dogs was having babies and they would be worth a lot,

I would recommend this book to people who like animals and exciting thing, I would because this book has a lot of that and the animals talk. It's really exciting.

Dogs cats and and a strange house.......2006-10-04

Have you ever thought about life as a dog? If you have I have the perfect book for you. The book is Howliday Inn. This is a story about Chester and Harold the family dog and cat. When the Monroes leave on a family vacation they leave Harold and Chester at Château BowWow. When mysterious murder strikes Harold and Chester must save the day. Will they be stuck at Château Bow Wow for ever? Read the book and find out! By
Stephanie

delightful.......2006-06-07

I don't read fiction very often, but I do pull this old book off the shelf and read it from time to time. I've owned this book ever since I was in the fourth grade, and I've read it too many times to count. It is a great little fiction book to read. Fun story, and so simple. A perfect "murder mystery" for young children.

Warning: Spoiler ahead.

The first time I read it I was sad to see Chester had apparently died, but then his crashing entrance into the closing chapters of the story is just fantastic... and funny!

Average customer rating:

Lions,and Tigers
My Review
For All Readers Looking for Suspense
Killing Animals to make medicine
horrible writing

Lord Of The Kill
Theodore Taylor
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0439559561

Book Description

When a half-eaten body is found inside a locked jaguar cage, eighteen-year-old Ben Jepson knows it's no prank - someone is trying to make trouble for the Los Coyotes Big Cat Preserve and its manager, Ben's father. An outspoken conservationist, Dr. Jepson has made some powerful enemies. Ben's parents are on a tiger conservation mission deep in the jungle. Now Ben is the only one who can keep Los Coyotes running. But when his beloved tiger Dmitri, nicknamed "Lord of the Kill," is kidnapped, Ben must decide whether to wait for the authorities or to strike out on his own.

Customer Reviews:

Lions,and Tigers.......2006-12-05

I like Lord of the Kill because it is a bit scary but is a good book for animal lovers. I think this a good book for older kids because of blood and violence. It has only one bad in the book. If you dont like horror stories you would not like this book. It has a good ending for the characters it has a bad biginning. If you get scared easy you might want to think twice.

My Review.......2006-05-24

Lord of the Kill is a very well put together book. Theodore Taylor uses a lot of description of what is happening and you can put together a picture in your mind of what is going on. Taylor sends his readers inside the book and it feels as if you are there living out the story. He uses problems that may not seem like they are around today and tries to play along those lines as an animal-rights family and fights for what they believe. Taylor probably intended you to feel what is happening to the characters, especially Ben, and try to relate to him. Most parents leave to go out of town or on vacation and leave their kids to look after the house so in some form most young adults can relate to Ben. Ben takes on the challenge of finding his lost tiger, as most young adults would take on any challenge they may face while alone or have parents out of town. Taylor uses emotions to help enhance what the characters are feeling which helps grab your attention. Adults can relate to other characters like the other employees trying to help Ben manage to preserve, most adults have helped someone else in one way or another.
The ideal audience for Lord of the Kill is definitely for young adults and is well suited for it, they like to read books that have younger main characters in an adventure to stick up for something they believe in. If adventure is your kind of genre then Lord of the Kill would fit your needs.

For All Readers Looking for Suspense.......2006-05-18

Sick and tired of the fake mystery investigations we so often see on television? If the answer is yes, then try reading Lord of the Kill by Theodore Taylor. This book shows the reader what it is like to understand the real crimes from a witness's point of view. Lord of the Kill is the sequel to Sniper, in which both books share the same protagonist: Benjamin Jepson. Ben is a sixteen-year-old male, and even though he is not the brightest in school, he does comprehend quite a bit about the cats at his father's preserve. Ben's dream in life is to someday own the "Los Coyotes Big Cat Preserve" just as his father does now. It seems as if Ben will receive his first test in running the preserve while his parents are in India writing a story for the "National Geographic". Unfortunate for Ben, the preserve has multiple, capable enemies willing to ruin it. This is due to his father's strong opinions against poaching the big cats or any other animal.

Trouble arises when a half-eaten body is found in the cage of two "dangerous" jaguars. Because of the animals' mysterious ways, people outside of the preserve are usually quite afraid of the jaguars and give them nicknames such as "Killer". Without the jaguar mystery solved, General Dmitri Zukov-Ben's favorite Siberian tiger weighing over 800 pounds and having a total length of thirteen feet-is kidnapped! No matter how bizarre it may seem to steal a tiger, Ben realizes he must act quickly if he wishes to see his friend alive ever again. This mystery book's main theme is love, especially shown from Ben. The boy's heart may need to lead him to the most dangerous and important moment of his life. Theodore Taylor's chapters and formatting reminded me of the way Herman Melville separated his chapters in Moby Dick-sweet and short, right to the point. Mr. Taylor of course used many flashbacks because the book is a mystery. And in a mystery, the reader solely learns things when they come into play or when the author finds a necessary time to include such information.

Theodore Taylor has written more than 50 fiction and non-fiction books for young-adult readers. I will probably find myself reading another one of Mr. Taylor's books because overall, I thought Lord of the Kill to be very exciting. Readers must remember not all mysteries can be solved and to be prepared for the numerous unexpected twists and turns. While reading, I took notes on the characters because otherwise a gigantic assortment of questions would have appeared towards the end of the book. I felt worried and frantic in most parts. Any person who believes in justice for animals or takes delight in a well-written mystery would certainly enjoy this book. In the end, we seldom know what may lurk behind the corner. All we can do is rely on our judgment to lead us to the solution of our problems.

Killing Animals to make medicine.......2006-01-24

A half eaten girl is found and locked up in a jaguar cage.
It was a girl from the streets of China Town it was a message from the Triads.
Lord of the Kill by Theodore Taylor is about a kid named Ben who has a tiger preserve to run, he is 18 years old and his parents are somewhere in a jungle in India. Triads are threat the preserve because Ben's father told the Hong Kong police about the shipment of animal medicine that animals were killed to make the medicine.
The book is a good vs. bad book. That one side is trying to save exotic animals and the other is killing animals for medicine.
Ben is scared so he caries a colt. Ben has been getting messages from the Triads that they are threatening him because of Ben's dad that he told the Hong Kong police about the shipment of medicine mad from animals.
I feel bad that Ben has to deal with a big problem. That Ben has lots of problems to deal with. For example: his parents are in a jungle lost and hasn't heard from them.
The writing is very mysteries that there are lots of mysteries. An example is there is a body in a cage with the jaguars.
I recommend this book to people that like mysteries books.

horrible writing.......2005-04-11

What a disappointment! Sniper is my favorite book by Theodore Taylor; in it, 15-year-old Ben Jepson is left in charge of his parents' big cat preserve while his parents visit Africa. Then his parents disappear and someone begins shooting the cats. It's a thrilling story that holds up to re-reading; my copy is in tatters. However, this book reads less like a sequel and more like a re-write of the first book. In it, 16-year-old Ben is left in charge of his parents' big cat preserve while his parents visit India. Then his parents disappear and someone begins causing trouble for the preserve. It's not a thrilling story this time around, and Taylor introduces too many new characters (such as the secretary) who weren't in the first book, while leaving out characters (such as Ben's girlfriend) who should be in the second book. Plus, Ben is 16--why is he entering his senior year of high school? Plus, half of the book is printed in italics for no apparent reason, except to annoy the reader. Skip this one. It wasn't even worth the $1.25 I spent on it.

Grandma, Where Are You? (Lift-The-Flap Books (Sterling))

Average customer rating:

Great book from Grandmas
The "Away" Grandma
Adorable Little book

Grandma, Where Are You? (Lift-The-Flap Books (Sterling))
Harriet Ziefert
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1402718802

Book Description

It's like a game of hide-and-seek. Little Hippo is looking up and down, all around, trying to find Grandma. Could she be behind the door, somewhere in the garden, relaxing in the bath? Open all the nice, big flaps and see what Grandma's doing. And when the day is done, Little Hippo turns the tables and now it's Grandma's turn to find him.

Customer Reviews:

Great book from Grandmas.......2007-01-18

My sons Grandma bought this book for my 18mo and he really enjoys lifting the big flaps trying to find where Grandma is. This is a great book about Grandmas.

The "Away" Grandma.......2006-11-04

My grandchild lives in the USA and I live in Canada. I am determined that this toddler remember me between visits. This book lets my grandchild fold open pages to see the "grandma" behind the fold and so it lends itself very well to my goals. On the last page I pasted a photograph of my living room and when she lifts up the page there is a photo of me. She's only 16 months old but her mother says she loves to hear the story and laughs when she lifts up the last folded picture to find me there. Follow up: I just returned from Christmas in California - she's now 19 months old & the book is nearly worn out and the gloss is worn away from the living room photo!

Adorable Little book.......2005-07-05

A cute story about a Grandma spending time with a grandchild. My 1 and a half year old loves to find Grandma beneath the little flaps...and then the Little Hippo hides himself...will Grandma find him. A wonderful story for a grandmother to share with a little person!

Big Max and the Mystery of the Missing Giraffe (I Can Read Book 2)

Average customer rating:

A pair of keepers

Big Max and the Mystery of the Missing Giraffe (I Can Read Book 2)
Kin Platt
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060099186
Release Date: 2005-05-03

Book Description

When his pet giraffe, Jake, is missing, King Punchapillow knows just who to call -- the famous detective Big Max! In the Land of Ah-Ah-Achoo, Big Max finds lots of rubber trees, some lions playing ping-pong, and even disappearing giraffe tracks ... but no Jake.

Is this mystery too big for even the world's greatest detective to solve?

Customer Reviews:

A pair of keepers.......2005-09-17

In 1965, Kin Platt's "Big Max," illustrated by Robert Lopshire, was published. It was a simple text, happily illustrated, the type of book a child will enjoy having read again and again. Four decades later "Big Max and the Mystery of the Missing Giraffe," illustrated by Lynne Cravath sees poshumous print. Oh, the titles are similar enough. Switch the elephant for the giraffe. Happily, Big Max still travels by umbrella, keeps his clues guarded, and saves the day without accepting pay. Perhaps he is independently wealthy. Anyhow, Cravath's illustrations, while her own, nicely complement those of Lopshire. Both titles deserve a place in school, public, and personal libraries. Both are keepers.

The Celery Stalks At Midnight (Celery Stalks at Midnight Cloth)

Average customer rating:

The celery is a stalker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A clever romp through the mind of a zany cat and his two canine companions!
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the garden
A not very good follow-up
A mysterious good book

The Celery Stalks At Midnight (Celery Stalks at Midnight Cloth)
James Howe
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689309872

Book Description

CHESTER, the cat, Harold, the dog, Bunnicula, the vampire (?) rabbit, and Howie, the wirehaired dachshund puppy, return in this sequel to Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery and Howliday Inn to ask the question: Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of lettuce?

Chester has just finished retelling the tale of Bunnicula to Howie, who has just joined the Monroe family, when he discovers that Bunnicula is missing from his cage. Chester stays up all night worrying. What becomes of the vegetables Bunnicula attacks (for he is after all a vegetarian vampire)? Do they become vampire veggies serving their master's evil ways? Certain that the town is crawling with killer parsnips and homicidal heads of lettuce, Chester sets out with Harold and Howie and a box of toothpicks for spearing the little devils through the heart.

En route to finding Bunnicula, driving tiny stakes through whatever white vegetables lie in their paths and thereby saving the town of Centerville, the threesome have more than their share of adventures, including an encounter with an ill-tempered white cat named Snowball and an unexpected trip to the town dump.

Finally the strange actions of everyone in town, including Toby and Pete Monroe, convince Chester that he may be too late, that Bunnicula and his minion vegetables may have taken over the town. Chester and his merry band race to save what souls they can. But, of course, Chester has been known to be wrong before.

Customer Reviews:

The celery is a stalker!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2007-04-06

Bunnicula i on the loose! Three animals try to find a bunny they named Bunnicula while stabbing all the "evil" celery stalks.They end up with a dumpster oder and a big suprise!I'm not going to say anymore or I'll give it away but it's a great book I reccomend to anyone that likes funny books.

A clever romp through the mind of a zany cat and his two canine companions!.......2007-01-27

Harold thought that all of Chester's fears and concerns regarding Bunnicula and the fact that he was a vampire ended long ago, when he was placed on a liquid diet of vegetable juice. But, when Bunnicula disappears from his cage, and Chester begins locating various pieces of vegetables that have been drained of their juices, and have turned completely white, he puts on his detective hat once more, and begins investigating the mysterious occurrences. Of course, this time there are some differences involving his investigation. One, he has lost all track of Bunnicula, and can't find him anywhere, no matter how hard he looks. And, even worse, the Monroes seem to be oblivious to the fact that the freaky-deaky rabbit has disappeared from his cage, and won't listen to Chester's cries of concern for the MIA bunny; and two, this time, Chester doesn't have just Harold as his sidekick in his quest for justice, he also has Howie, the Monroes new dachshund puppy who happens to have a howl that could wake the dead, and a wish to be Chester's very own son. While Howie could easily get on Chester's nerves, he's taking the little guys affections in stride, and using them in an attempt to get Howie to side with him and his thoughts on little Bunnicula, as opposed to following the lead of the disbelieving Harold, who wants nothing more than to think the best of the little guy. As Chester, Harold, and Howie begin their search, they find themselves in the throes of a town filled with white vegetables. White vegetables that they are staking with toothpicks, to prevent them from coming to life and following Bunnicula's vegetable-draining ways. However, as the three siblings cavort and romp through various backyards and homes to locate Bunnicula, they encounter an array of animals who are interested in one thing: taking them down.

BUNNICULA was enjoyable, HOWLIDAY INN was riveting, but with THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT, James Howe has most definitely outdone himself. As with the two previous installments, Chester and Harold are as delightful as ever. Chester's quest for justice, and his wacky mind put together make him an irresistible character - if not slightly insane - and will leave readers laughing out loud; while the food-loving Harold's disbelief about Bunnicula is catching, making the reader question whether or not Bunnicula truly is, or isn't, a vampire. However, it is the introduction of Howie that makes THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT shine. Howie is the equivalent of Scooby-Doo's nephew, Scrappy-Doo. His aspirations to be just like Chester are off-beat, while his penchant for telling ridiculous jokes at all the wrong times are side-splitting funny. His howl, of course, gives his personality a slightly eerie side; but his love of peanut butter (something most dogs avoid) more than makes up for it. As with BUNNICULA, the fanged bunny doesn't make much of an appearance in THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT; but the combining personalities of Harold, Chester, and Howie, along with the different animals they meet up with, from the sweater-wearing Max to the spitting-mad Snowball, certainly give the tale that certain...crunch to make it splendid. A clever romp through the mind of a zany cat and his two canine companions!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the garden .......2006-09-21

A dog's life can be more complicated than you might think - especially if that dog is a canine author who happens to live with a puppy possessing some definite Scrappy Doo character traits, a vampire bunny, and a feline Van Helsing. OK, the jury is still out on the bunny's alleged vampiric nature, but Chester the cat is convinced of it - and he's committed to saving the neighborhood from the threat posed by Bunnicula. Harold, the narrator of this fantastic tale, thinks Chester is somewhat touched in the head, but events conspire to raise his own suspicions once more as this latest Bunnicula story unfolds.

It all starts with Bunnicula's sudden disappearance one morning. Chester, who has never forgotten all of those white, juice-drained vegetables that turned up after Bunnicula's previous night-time disappearances, immediately assumes that the vampire bunny has gone on another rampage, a conclusion seemingly reinforced by the presence of a large white beet in the backyard. For the first time, Chester also begins wondering what happens to all those vegetables that Bunnicula leaves in his vampiric wake. From his reading, he knows that vampires' victims usually become vampires themselves. Minion onions? Stalking celery? Why, this puts every man, woman, child, and animal in the neighborhood at risk.

Despite Harold's natural reluctance and contrary opinion, he, Howie (a dachshund puppy who has adopted Chester the cat as his "Pop"), and Chester immediately go on the prowl, armed with plenty of toothpicks with which to stab any white vampire vegetables through the heart. A series of misadventures follow as the trio of four-legged heroes tries to find Bunnicula before it is too late to save everyone in town, including their own human family members.

The Celery Stalks at Midnight, besides having one of the best titles you'll ever find, is a wonderfully entertaining read for adults as well as children - although some of the jokes will find much more fertile ground on youthful ears. It's not quite as good as the original Bunnicula novel, however, as the story does get a little silly toward the end. Still, any adventure with Harold, Chester, and Howie is a trip worth taking. Parents, I would highly recommend this book for your youngsters, especially those who haven't yet discovered just how fun reading can be.

A not very good follow-up.......2005-02-15

I don't feel like this is a terrible book, but I can't give it a high rating because I just didn't feel that it was special in any way.

Howe struck entertainment gold when he wrote Bunnicula, the first book in the series. But the idea of a vampiric bunny that freaks out the established household pets (Chester the cat, Harold the dog, and now Howie the dachshund puppy) can only be taken so far, especially if the mute bunny never actually seems to do any harm. I really enjoyed the first book, thought of the second book as a decent sequel, and found this book to just be more of the same.

The humor is very broad, mostly revolving around the silliness of the main characters, who misinterpret harmless situations to mean that Bunnicula is on a rampage. Their earnestness is sometimes appealing, but they are hard to find an emotional connection with.

I think that most readers will see the plot points coming from a mile away.

I recommend this book to Bunnicula fans, but there are too many terrific books out there for the casual reader to spend time on this one.

A mysterious good book.......2003-12-17

The title of my book is The celery stalks at midnight.The book is about
three pets named Howie,Chester,and Harold.They are finding a rabbit
named Bunnicula.He is a rabbit that is a vampire and sucks the juices
out of living things.One night bunnicula escaped from his cage and went
out to suck juices out of vegetables.All three of them went to find him.They keep looking and looking.Finally they found him and took him
home to his family.The three of them went home and relaxed.I think the

Book Description

One day, a purple coyote appeared on the hill. A coyote unlike any other. A purple coyote.

Jim's never seen a purple coyote before, and he's determined to find out how the creature got his unusual color. But the coyote isn't saying. It's a big secret. So is the reason why the coyote howls a strange howl and dances a strange dance. Jim is stumped, and the more he questions the coyote, the more frustrated he becomes. Then one day the secret is revealed . . . .

Aunt Eater's Mystery Halloween (An I Can Read Book)

Average customer rating:

Aunt Eater's Mystery Halloween (An I Can Read Book)
Doug Cushman
Manufacturer: HarperCollins Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

Humorous | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0060278048

Book Description

It's Halloween and Aunt Eater is going to a costume party. It's a good thing she's dressed as a detective, because wherever Aunt Eater goes a mystery is bound to follow!Before the evening is over, Aunt Eater investigates a man-eater monster, a headless ghost, and a haunted piano. What other mysteries will Aunt Eater discover on this strange Halloween night? Doug Cushman's lovable sleuth is back in four fun, spooky stories just right for Halloween.

Book Description

The two charter members of the Bat Club (Bats and Burglars and Bats out the Window) have to make some money fast. Sam and Simon aren't about to walk dogs or put up a lemonade stand. So the two friends embark on a unique enterprise instead - compost tea!

Average customer rating:

Don't Look Now or Ever
Anne E. Schraff
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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