Deborah Howe

James Howe

Alan Daniel

Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire.

Bunnicula

A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery (Bunnicula)

Briar's Reviews

Back in the day, Bunnicula was THE book to read in elementary school. The class clambered to the front of the classroom to sit in our little circle and have story time. This book turned us all into little book loving zombies and we were desperate for more. Unfortunately, our school and teachers were only ever able to get the first book, but that didn't deter us. We all had it memorized by the end of the day.

Fast forward to 2020. I see this book in a local used bookstore and I decide, "Hey, why not read it again and see if it holds up?" I can see this book for what it is - an absolute delightful middle grade novel that introduces fun horror to youthful eyes. As an adult, it didn't hold up for me but I still have a special place in my heart for it. Who doesn't love Bunnicula? Seriously.

Vampire Bunnies. It's such a unique idea and I LOVE it. This book sits with Goosebumps on my happy, little, Halloween-loving shelf. This bunny goes and drains vegetables, because obviously it was owned by Dracula! It's a fun concept and super silly! It's definitely a book I would recommend for parents and educators. Get your little readers into a spooky, Halloween spirit with this little gem!

As an adult, it feels like a funny SNL skit. It's not scary to us because we know it's fiction but to little kids it's a potential nightmare (in a good way, it's not THAT scary). The anticipation as a child was not there as an adult, but I can still appreciate how wonderfully written this book is. It's short and sweet but packed full of story! 

Also, surprise ending! I forgot how this book ended so I was pleasantly surprised!

The only negative I had with this book was some of the adult references: classic books, taxes, etc. Kids might not understand these terms, but if they have a great adult reader helping them along, it might be a good educational opportunity, I guess.

Overall, this book is a childhood fave of mine that I would still highly recommend! It's so nostalgic for me and I truly miss the whimsical nature of reading these books!

Four out of five stars.

Latitude Tamarind

this book was way more intense than i remembered

I mean, how do you not give this adorable "horror" tale for kids 5 stars?

It was cute, funny, and had some adult insight in it geared for kids. I remember reading this as a kid and there is a white zucchini part that did make me jump when I was in the targeted age range.

Reading it as an adult, it's cute. It made me chuckle, and had some "adult" level humor in terms of sibling rivalry and some of the dialogue. It does parallel the Dracula original in some ways too, which I liked. Obviously without any death or gore.

Very cute and probably spooky for kids that land in the age range. I definitely recommend it for a kid who likes the spooky stories. There is a whole series too, though haven't read any others.

“Bunnicula rules!” —Dav Pilkey, creator of the Captain Underpants series Celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the fluffy and fearsome classic Bunnicula with this pocket-sized edition, perfect for accompanying readers on all their mischievous adventures. This special edition includes bonus content and a deluxe cover that looks and feels as eerily delightful as the story within! Beware the hare! 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! Could this innocent-seeming rabbit actually be a vampire?

40th Anniversary Edition

Ania

This book is written by Harold. His fulltime occupation is dog. He lives with Mr. and Mrs. Monroe and their sons Toby and Pete. Also sharing the home are a cat named Chester and a rabbit named Bunnicula. It is because of Bunnicula that Harold turned to writing. Someone had to tell the full story of what happened in the Monroe household after the rabbit arrived. Was Bunnicula really a vampire? Only Bunnicula knows for sure. But the story of Chester's suspicions and their consequences makes uproarious reading. Since its first appearance in 1979, Bunnicula has been a hit with kids and their parents everywhere, selling over 8 million copies and winning numerous awards.