The family dog tells the story of a new pet rabbit with fangs, a nocturnal schedule and a mysterious effect on vegetables
Today vegetables, tomorrow the world
Harold, a large and easygoing dog, is the narrator of this story. One night the Monroe family comes home from the movies with a small black-and-white rabbit they found at the theater, wrapped in a note written in an obscure language. They name him Bunnicula. Soon afterward, strange things begin to happen in the Monroe kitchen: vegetables are found drained of color and juice, white as chalk, with two small holes in them.
Who will enjoy it
Young readers who like funny animals and gentle spooky stories, and families looking for a quick read-aloud with plenty of laughs.
What you will get
A hilarious, gently spooky classic in which a dog and a cat suspect the family's new pet rabbit of being a vegetable vampire.
Bunnicula Facts: Pages, Genre and Setting
Genre
Children’s Books · Funny pets · Mystery · Read-aloud
Length
128 pages · ≈ 4 h
More about this book
Chester, the family cat, is a well-read creature with a vivid imagination, and he is convinced that the new bunny is a vampire. He reads up on the subject, studies the rabbit's every move and sets out to protect the household, with Harold as his reluctant sidekick. His attempts, including a memorable episode with garlic, become increasingly absurd, while the Monroes remain blissfully unaware of the drama.
The comedy comes from the contrast between Chester's theatrical paranoia and Harold's calm, food-loving common sense. The story is also a gentle parody of old horror movies, and children enjoy being in on the joke without being genuinely scared. James Howe wrote it with his late wife, Deborah Howe, and it launched a series of sequels.
Some readers feel sorry for poor Bunnicula, who is rather mistreated by Chester, and the ending is more charming than surprising. Short chapters and large type make it ideal for confident early readers. It is also a lovely bridge for children who are ready for slightly spooky stories but not for real scares, and several sequels keep the fun going. About 128 pages in the Atheneum paperback.
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