What do you think?
Rate this book
Bunnicula #1
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery
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!
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!
98 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1979
810 people are currently reading
17.8k people want to read
About the author
Deborah Howe
12books48followersDeborah Howe with her husband James Howe was the author of the classic children's tale Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery. After her death, the Bunnicula series was continued by James.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,428 reviews
March 17, 2025
Did you know James & Deborah Howe didn't write Bunnicula?
Sure, their names are on the title, but the manuscript was actually dropped off at their door by the story's narrator, Harold the dog.<--it was a lot easier to get away with this back in 1979
In his own words, Harold describes what happened to the Monroe house after a fluffy baby bunny appeared in their home.
The tale mainly revolves around his long-time feline friend, Chester, who endeavors to prove that Bunnicula is a vampire while being thwarted by fate at every turn.
Chester spirals.
As cats do when they don't get their way.
Alright. The skinny gist is that Chester is SURE this baby bunny is a vampire. <--and to be fair, he probably is! But if his greatest crime is sucking the juice out of veggies, the cat probably needs to calm the fuck down.
Now, I don't know how many of you have cat overlords at home, but I'm speaking from experience when I say that telling them they need to straighten up and stop acting crazy just isn't an option.
And Harold knows this.
So how is he going to save his human family, save Chester's sanity, and maybe even save a tiny vampire bunny?
I won't spoil the ending for you, but it's cute.
Ok, this was adorable and stands the test of time.
As in, you can read it to your kids and not have to scrape your tongue afterward to get that horrible children's book taste out of your mouth.
Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.
Highly Recommended.
PS - I listened to the audiobook version with Victor Garber as the narrator, and it was fantastic.
Sure, their names are on the title, but the manuscript was actually dropped off at their door by the story's narrator, Harold the dog.<--it was a lot easier to get away with this back in 1979
In his own words, Harold describes what happened to the Monroe house after a fluffy baby bunny appeared in their home.
The tale mainly revolves around his long-time feline friend, Chester, who endeavors to prove that Bunnicula is a vampire while being thwarted by fate at every turn.
Chester spirals.
As cats do when they don't get their way.
Alright. The skinny gist is that Chester is SURE this baby bunny is a vampire. <--and to be fair, he probably is! But if his greatest crime is sucking the juice out of veggies, the cat probably needs to calm the fuck down.
Now, I don't know how many of you have cat overlords at home, but I'm speaking from experience when I say that telling them they need to straighten up and stop acting crazy just isn't an option.
And Harold knows this.
So how is he going to save his human family, save Chester's sanity, and maybe even save a tiny vampire bunny?
I won't spoil the ending for you, but it's cute.
Ok, this was adorable and stands the test of time.
As in, you can read it to your kids and not have to scrape your tongue afterward to get that horrible children's book taste out of your mouth.
Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about.
Highly Recommended.
PS - I listened to the audiobook version with Victor Garber as the narrator, and it was fantastic.
October 26, 2023
This ended up being so much cuter than I was expecting. I loved the banter between the dog and the cat. There were so many comedic moments between the two! Definitely not as spooky as I was hoping it'd be, but I loved the mystery that unfolded and the sweet ending.
February 24, 2020
Another fun time reading a classic and nostalgia filled book to my kids!
Probably the best part of the experience was when it came to sharing my progress on ŷ and the wide array of responses I got. Everything from, “Wow, I haven’t read this in years! I was one of my favorites!� to, “WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU READING!� I mean, it is a book about a vampire bunny and if you saw the cover come across your feed, and you had never heard of it, you might have had a similar shocked reaction!
I did enjoy reading this to my kids and have enjoyed the fact that they have now consumed three straight books one chapter a night with great enthusiasm. However, unlike Charlie and the Chocolate factory, it did not quite translate to a 5-star read for me as an adult and, if I had not been enjoying it along with my kids I might have not enjoyed it quite as much. But, still, a classic!
One of my favorite things about this book is that it does have a similar feel to Dracula in the narration by Harold the dog. His delivery and diction felt very similar to Harker’s letters in Dracula. That was a really cool connection � and I hope if my kids get to read Dracula some day they remember Bunnicula!
So, either enjoy a nostalgic “horror� trip to your childhood or continue to be confused as to why someone would want to read this. Either way, Bunnicula is not going anywhere in the annals of classic youth literature
Probably the best part of the experience was when it came to sharing my progress on ŷ and the wide array of responses I got. Everything from, “Wow, I haven’t read this in years! I was one of my favorites!� to, “WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU READING!� I mean, it is a book about a vampire bunny and if you saw the cover come across your feed, and you had never heard of it, you might have had a similar shocked reaction!
I did enjoy reading this to my kids and have enjoyed the fact that they have now consumed three straight books one chapter a night with great enthusiasm. However, unlike Charlie and the Chocolate factory, it did not quite translate to a 5-star read for me as an adult and, if I had not been enjoying it along with my kids I might have not enjoyed it quite as much. But, still, a classic!
One of my favorite things about this book is that it does have a similar feel to Dracula in the narration by Harold the dog. His delivery and diction felt very similar to Harker’s letters in Dracula. That was a really cool connection � and I hope if my kids get to read Dracula some day they remember Bunnicula!
So, either enjoy a nostalgic “horror� trip to your childhood or continue to be confused as to why someone would want to read this. Either way, Bunnicula is not going anywhere in the annals of classic youth literature
Read
June 24, 2014(This review is from 2004.)
Since it’s Halloween, I thought I’d talk about something frightening: Bunnies. Vampire bunnies. Ninja vampire bunnies. Okay, so, maybe not that ninja part. But definitely vampire bunnies—one in particular.
So, my roommate (Mr. “I’m not in there!� from the other week) was recently given a collection of young adult books as a birthday present. Most of the stack didn’t interest me, but I did notice one specific volume in the pile. I remember reading Bunnicula as a child, and it very well could have been my first genre fiction book ever. So, intrigued about how I would regard the experience as an adult, I sat down one evening to give the novel another read.
I came out of it with two impressions. First, that is one amazingly fun book. Second, that is one amazingly short book.
On the second point, it turns out that I’m older now—and I’m used to stories that take a little bit longer to tell. It’s pretty amazing how few words they managed to pack into so many pages. (It’s around a hundred, give or take, depending on your edition.) It’s short. It has chapters, true, but they’re. . .well, more like extended paragraphs. I was through the book before I knew what had happened.
Part of that, however, was due to sheer enjoyment. Often times, when I look back at things I enjoyed as a child, I find that I displayed an embarrassing lack of discerning taste. (G.I. Joe—or pretty much any cartoon I watched—makes a fine example.) Bunnicula, however, was a delightful read—both because of how fun it was, and because it proves that I at least had good taste in books when I was young. (Even if my TV habits were deplorable.)
Anyway, about the book itself. Aspiring writers, take note—there are a wealth of lessons to be learned from this humble story. First off, it has an interesting premise. A normal family discovers a mysterious pet bunny abandoned in a movie theater—a bunny that turns out to have belonged to Dracula, and how goes out during the night to hunt vegetables and drain their ‘blood.� Amusing, perhaps a bit farcical—however, the authors manage to mix this potentially-ridiculous idea with some solid storytelling. The book is told from the viewpoint of the family’s pet dog, a creature with a healthy dose of personality and an interesting narrative style.
That means we have both a clever premise, a strong character, and a unique viewpoint. Mix with that a solid mystery plot—why are these white vegetables appearing around the house, and why does that bunny look so downright evil?—and you have a book that will hold its own against pretty much anything you throw at it. I know a lot of modern fantasy novels that could learn a few things from Bunnicula.
So, I recommend that you give the book a read, if you haven’t already. It’s fun, quick, and could probably teach you a few things. And, if you did read the book as a child, it might be an interesting experience to pick it up—like I did—and see how your childhood memories compare to your adult observations.
Since it’s Halloween, I thought I’d talk about something frightening: Bunnies. Vampire bunnies. Ninja vampire bunnies. Okay, so, maybe not that ninja part. But definitely vampire bunnies—one in particular.
So, my roommate (Mr. “I’m not in there!� from the other week) was recently given a collection of young adult books as a birthday present. Most of the stack didn’t interest me, but I did notice one specific volume in the pile. I remember reading Bunnicula as a child, and it very well could have been my first genre fiction book ever. So, intrigued about how I would regard the experience as an adult, I sat down one evening to give the novel another read.
I came out of it with two impressions. First, that is one amazingly fun book. Second, that is one amazingly short book.
On the second point, it turns out that I’m older now—and I’m used to stories that take a little bit longer to tell. It’s pretty amazing how few words they managed to pack into so many pages. (It’s around a hundred, give or take, depending on your edition.) It’s short. It has chapters, true, but they’re. . .well, more like extended paragraphs. I was through the book before I knew what had happened.
Part of that, however, was due to sheer enjoyment. Often times, when I look back at things I enjoyed as a child, I find that I displayed an embarrassing lack of discerning taste. (G.I. Joe—or pretty much any cartoon I watched—makes a fine example.) Bunnicula, however, was a delightful read—both because of how fun it was, and because it proves that I at least had good taste in books when I was young. (Even if my TV habits were deplorable.)
Anyway, about the book itself. Aspiring writers, take note—there are a wealth of lessons to be learned from this humble story. First off, it has an interesting premise. A normal family discovers a mysterious pet bunny abandoned in a movie theater—a bunny that turns out to have belonged to Dracula, and how goes out during the night to hunt vegetables and drain their ‘blood.� Amusing, perhaps a bit farcical—however, the authors manage to mix this potentially-ridiculous idea with some solid storytelling. The book is told from the viewpoint of the family’s pet dog, a creature with a healthy dose of personality and an interesting narrative style.
That means we have both a clever premise, a strong character, and a unique viewpoint. Mix with that a solid mystery plot—why are these white vegetables appearing around the house, and why does that bunny look so downright evil?—and you have a book that will hold its own against pretty much anything you throw at it. I know a lot of modern fantasy novels that could learn a few things from Bunnicula.
So, I recommend that you give the book a read, if you haven’t already. It’s fun, quick, and could probably teach you a few things. And, if you did read the book as a child, it might be an interesting experience to pick it up—like I did—and see how your childhood memories compare to your adult observations.
October 30, 2017
while i read this, check out a vampire list i made over here -
OCTOBER
as part of my personal reading challenges for 2017, once a month i will be revisiting a favorite book from when i was a little bitty karen and seeing if it holds up to my fond memories and determining if i can still enjoy it as an old and crotchety karen.
fingers crossed.
OCTOBER
as part of my personal reading challenges for 2017, once a month i will be revisiting a favorite book from when i was a little bitty karen and seeing if it holds up to my fond memories and determining if i can still enjoy it as an old and crotchety karen.
fingers crossed.
January 4, 2023
A super-fun read-aloud for Grade 3 students! Makes you wonder - is the bunny a vampire, or not?
October 24, 2019
A sweet little horror book that isn’t really a horror book 😉
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾🎃
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾🎃
February 13, 2018
Hear me out: there is no Bunnicula. This is about the cat.
His name is Chester. He has schemes and a vivid imagination, as cats do. He's steeped in Here's my Gothic Drinking Game if you need a refresher, and notice how Bunnicula will get you drunk:
Here's what we know: the Monroes have a new bunny, and vegetables are turning white. The bunny has funny markings, which leads the family to name him Bunnicula. On this evidence Chester declares the bunny a vampire. This is basically the plot of Northanger Abbey.
This would be funny if Chester's reaction wasn't so unbelievably cruel: he immediately starts stealing all the food from the bunny's cage, to keep the bunny from murdering lettuce. Bunnicula is young. Chester is starving a baby bunny to death because he says it's a vampire.
One of the original illustrations, which are great, basically lays out the whole plot
The book is narrated by the family dog, who plays himself off as stupid but also insists he recognizes and understands Romanian, so it's safe to call him unreliable. Anyway dogs are the least reliable of narrators, have you ever tried to let one explain what they're smelling?
The poor family finally realizes Bunnicula is on the brink of death and rushes him to the vet, who prescribes carrot juice, so the poor thing is saved in the nick of time. The rabbit has still never said a word; there's been no evidence whatsoever that he's a vampire. The only thing we have is pale vegetables. Recovered but with no one in the least concerned about what happened in the first place, he's forced to continue living with the monster who tried to kill him in the most cruel way.
Bunnicula subverts our expectations: we expect to discover that he is indeed a vampire, but in the end that's not the story at all. As in great Gothic novels like Uncle Silas and Lady Audley's Secret, the real villain was inside the house: it's Chester, the psychopathic cat. Jealous of the attention paid to a new pet, he frames him as a monster and is barely stopped from murdering him. He's abetted by the dog, who hides a slavish complicity under his goofy doggishness. Horrifyingly, there are sequels to Bunnicula. Who knows what tortures they'll bring to this poor, defenseless bunny?
His name is Chester. He has schemes and a vivid imagination, as cats do. He's steeped in Here's my Gothic Drinking Game if you need a refresher, and notice how Bunnicula will get you drunk:
- Nasty weather
- Fainting (in our first hint that Bunnicula may not be the villain, he is usually the fainter)
- Creepy noises
- Scary eyes
- And the most important thing: a relative turns out to be the surprise villain.
Here's what we know: the Monroes have a new bunny, and vegetables are turning white. The bunny has funny markings, which leads the family to name him Bunnicula. On this evidence Chester declares the bunny a vampire. This is basically the plot of Northanger Abbey.
This would be funny if Chester's reaction wasn't so unbelievably cruel: he immediately starts stealing all the food from the bunny's cage, to keep the bunny from murdering lettuce. Bunnicula is young. Chester is starving a baby bunny to death because he says it's a vampire.
One of the original illustrations, which are great, basically lays out the whole plot
The book is narrated by the family dog, who plays himself off as stupid but also insists he recognizes and understands Romanian, so it's safe to call him unreliable. Anyway dogs are the least reliable of narrators, have you ever tried to let one explain what they're smelling?
The poor family finally realizes Bunnicula is on the brink of death and rushes him to the vet, who prescribes carrot juice, so the poor thing is saved in the nick of time. The rabbit has still never said a word; there's been no evidence whatsoever that he's a vampire. The only thing we have is pale vegetables. Recovered but with no one in the least concerned about what happened in the first place, he's forced to continue living with the monster who tried to kill him in the most cruel way.
Bunnicula subverts our expectations: we expect to discover that he is indeed a vampire, but in the end that's not the story at all. As in great Gothic novels like Uncle Silas and Lady Audley's Secret, the real villain was inside the house: it's Chester, the psychopathic cat. Jealous of the attention paid to a new pet, he frames him as a monster and is barely stopped from murdering him. He's abetted by the dog, who hides a slavish complicity under his goofy doggishness. Horrifyingly, there are sequels to Bunnicula. Who knows what tortures they'll bring to this poor, defenseless bunny?
October 23, 2021
This is a recommendation from ŷ.
Because you enjoyed :
So here I am! 🐰🧛♂�
I'm pretty happy with this recommendation from GR! This is nothing like Treadstone (Bourne Universe) obviously. It cracks me up when I saw the recommendation so I had to check it out.
Bunnicula is a children's book about the Monroe family who brought home a bunny they found at a movie theatre. Their dog Harold and cat Chester aren't happy with the new member and after finding fruits and veggies at home being drained of their color, they think there's more to this bunny than meets the eye.
Because you enjoyed :
So here I am! 🐰🧛♂�
I'm pretty happy with this recommendation from GR! This is nothing like Treadstone (Bourne Universe) obviously. It cracks me up when I saw the recommendation so I had to check it out.
Bunnicula is a children's book about the Monroe family who brought home a bunny they found at a movie theatre. Their dog Harold and cat Chester aren't happy with the new member and after finding fruits and veggies at home being drained of their color, they think there's more to this bunny than meets the eye.
June 10, 2020
I haven’t read this book in probably 30 years or so. I’m happy to report that it’s still delightful and a great read-along with kiddos.
Though I could have done without the special edition scratch-n-sniff bunny droppings cover.
Though I could have done without the special edition scratch-n-sniff bunny droppings cover.
September 4, 2023
I needed a pick me up, and so I went back to one of the books I used to read to my kids and it certainly did the job. A wildly popular book, the first is a series, that vaulted James Howe to the forefront of creative children's authors. This is nothing but pure fun and is narrated by the family dog Harold. We have Harold a dog, Chester the cat, and a rabbit found by the Monroe family when they went to a horror movie. The Rabbit is eventually named Bunnicula because it appears that a prior owner may have been from Transylvania, and Chester becomes convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire rabbit.
Lots of fun and silliness, including the sudden appearance of "white" vegetables that have had all their juices sucked out overnight - gotta admit that is pretty creepy to Chester! A really fine book for kids to read and enjoy and a wonderful story for parents or grandparents to read to the kids. There are a few more in this series and the next time I am feeling a bit down I will turn to these wildly creative books by Jakes Howe!
Lots of fun and silliness, including the sudden appearance of "white" vegetables that have had all their juices sucked out overnight - gotta admit that is pretty creepy to Chester! A really fine book for kids to read and enjoy and a wonderful story for parents or grandparents to read to the kids. There are a few more in this series and the next time I am feeling a bit down I will turn to these wildly creative books by Jakes Howe!
Read
October 26, 2021I first read this book in grade three and loved it. My black and white cat, after dental surgery, has only her four fangs left; one of her nicknames is now Bunnicula.
February 21, 2012
It’s only month #2 of , and already, I’m noticing a pattern. Last month, , a book that has had a profound influence on my life. I freely attribute my creativity to the inspiration I received from this happy little picture book, and now I realize that this month’s book, Bunnicula, has had an equally large impact on my life and personality.
Bunnicula made me smart. Seriously, it did.
Yes, I’m raising serious nature vs. nurture questions here, but the authors Howe & Howe really deserve some credit. They didn’t dumb down their vocabulary to appeal to children, no. They let the big words and the references to classic literary works fly. The authors didn’t say, “Hey, wait a sec here. How are kids supposed to know about Dracula, or Treasure Island, or A Tale of Two Cities?� They said, “Hey, kids probably won’t know about these great books, but maybe after reading Bunnicula, they’ll search them out.�
I really respect that about Bunnicula, and frankly, I don’t even remember the huge words being a problem when I was reading it as a kid. Maybe these things are less of an issue than adults think they are, just saying.
Okay, so the title of the book clearly refers to our friend, Bunnicula, the vampire bunny wabbit. And the narrator is Harold, a mutt who loves to feast on chocolate cupcakes but never succumbs to their poison. Interesting...
Now, who, you ask, who is the star of this tome? Why, Chester, the hair-brained, intellectual pussy cat, of course!
I think I probably wanted to marry Chester when I was a little girl. That’s okay to admit, because children often want to marry parents or cartoon characters. Chester is a perfectly acceptable crush, thank you. (I also crushed major on Disney’s Aladdin, but that’s a story for another day.)
The reasons why Chester is super dreamy abound. He’s intelligent, well-read, persistent, intuitive, funny, and cuddly. If you didn’t know I was talking about a fictional cat just now, you would probably be like, “Oh, sign me up for some of that!� Don’t lie to yourself, admit it!
Sure, Chester isn’t always right about everything. Who is? But it’s fun to watch his misadventures unfold. Flights of fancy are fun, especially when you’re tucked comfortably into your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sleeping bag with a flash light. Are you understanding who I was as a child now?
Bunnicula was a great read for boys and girls alike. I should know, because I detested girly gook. I collected bugs and refused to play with dolls. Bunnicula wasn’t a story about a pampered princess; it was a nitty gritty tale of vegetables in peril. I liked that.
Bunnicula was cute while still being terrifyingly ferocious. I’m sorry, Edward Cullen, but I’d take Bunnicula over you ANY DAY!
Bunnicula made me smart. Seriously, it did.
Yes, I’m raising serious nature vs. nurture questions here, but the authors Howe & Howe really deserve some credit. They didn’t dumb down their vocabulary to appeal to children, no. They let the big words and the references to classic literary works fly. The authors didn’t say, “Hey, wait a sec here. How are kids supposed to know about Dracula, or Treasure Island, or A Tale of Two Cities?� They said, “Hey, kids probably won’t know about these great books, but maybe after reading Bunnicula, they’ll search them out.�
I really respect that about Bunnicula, and frankly, I don’t even remember the huge words being a problem when I was reading it as a kid. Maybe these things are less of an issue than adults think they are, just saying.
Okay, so the title of the book clearly refers to our friend, Bunnicula, the vampire bunny wabbit. And the narrator is Harold, a mutt who loves to feast on chocolate cupcakes but never succumbs to their poison. Interesting...
Now, who, you ask, who is the star of this tome? Why, Chester, the hair-brained, intellectual pussy cat, of course!
I think I probably wanted to marry Chester when I was a little girl. That’s okay to admit, because children often want to marry parents or cartoon characters. Chester is a perfectly acceptable crush, thank you. (I also crushed major on Disney’s Aladdin, but that’s a story for another day.)
The reasons why Chester is super dreamy abound. He’s intelligent, well-read, persistent, intuitive, funny, and cuddly. If you didn’t know I was talking about a fictional cat just now, you would probably be like, “Oh, sign me up for some of that!� Don’t lie to yourself, admit it!
Sure, Chester isn’t always right about everything. Who is? But it’s fun to watch his misadventures unfold. Flights of fancy are fun, especially when you’re tucked comfortably into your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sleeping bag with a flash light. Are you understanding who I was as a child now?
Bunnicula was a great read for boys and girls alike. I should know, because I detested girly gook. I collected bugs and refused to play with dolls. Bunnicula wasn’t a story about a pampered princess; it was a nitty gritty tale of vegetables in peril. I liked that.
Bunnicula was cute while still being terrifyingly ferocious. I’m sorry, Edward Cullen, but I’d take Bunnicula over you ANY DAY!
Read
November 26, 2023I had to read it as part of Jan & I's origin story 🐇🦇
August 16, 2021
Hoje aproveitei o clima sombrio de tempestade e frio por aqui pra ler o primeiro livro do Bunnicula e adorei!
A única coisa que me deixou muito incomodada é o fato de que o cachorro da família (que é o narrador da história) fica comendo chocolate e outras porcarias de humanos. Por ser um livro voltado pro público infantil, acho muito perigoso esse tipo de coisa porque pode incentivar crianças a darem chocolate para seus cachorros e isso pode acabar matando eles.
A única coisa que me deixou muito incomodada é o fato de que o cachorro da família (que é o narrador da história) fica comendo chocolate e outras porcarias de humanos. Por ser um livro voltado pro público infantil, acho muito perigoso esse tipo de coisa porque pode incentivar crianças a darem chocolate para seus cachorros e isso pode acabar matando eles.
November 2, 2023
“But looking back on the next day, I can tell you that happy endings are possible, even in situations as fraught with complications as this one was.�
The beginning of the Bunnicula series!
Read this adorable book with my hubby for Halloween!! Happy Spooky Season everyone!!!
Yep, that was us giggling side by side like school kids while reading this amazing little book. We made a deal for Spooky Season: one Call of Duty video game session per one chapter of Bunnicula! It was so much fun!
If you are looking for a fun treat of a story with spooky undertones that will simultaneously warm your heart and make you laugh out loud, Bunnicula is your winner!
Harold the dog and Chester the cat are companions/pets of the Monroe family. Their world as they know is turned upside down when a mysterious new guest arrives to the household. Their constant banter was hilarious. I wasn’t expecting to laugh and enjoy a children’s book this much! Loved how the ending wrapped up leaving things open for you to gather your own conclusions about Bunnicula. We are really looking forward to reading the entire series! I’m actually working on collecting them all. Highly recommend this book series!
Last Thoughts: watch out for white veggies!
The beginning of the Bunnicula series!
Read this adorable book with my hubby for Halloween!! Happy Spooky Season everyone!!!
Yep, that was us giggling side by side like school kids while reading this amazing little book. We made a deal for Spooky Season: one Call of Duty video game session per one chapter of Bunnicula! It was so much fun!
If you are looking for a fun treat of a story with spooky undertones that will simultaneously warm your heart and make you laugh out loud, Bunnicula is your winner!
Harold the dog and Chester the cat are companions/pets of the Monroe family. Their world as they know is turned upside down when a mysterious new guest arrives to the household. Their constant banter was hilarious. I wasn’t expecting to laugh and enjoy a children’s book this much! Loved how the ending wrapped up leaving things open for you to gather your own conclusions about Bunnicula. We are really looking forward to reading the entire series! I’m actually working on collecting them all. Highly recommend this book series!
Last Thoughts: watch out for white veggies!
September 24, 2016
Hilarious and delightful read! I'm a sucker for books narrated by animals. With a Dracula theme and a snarky cat, how can you lose?!
September 21, 2021
Always such a fun read. Tiny Craig adored it!
February 20, 2016
Bunnicula, written by Harold the dog and starring Chester the cat, was well-received by my kids on a recent trip north. It was short, silly, and featured hi jinks of the best kind. Chester is one high brow cat! Extremely well-read and quite impressed with himself, he makes frequent literary references and he sees no reason to dumb down his language for Harold and as a parent, I loved that. I chuckled at his barbs and sarcastic comments, as well as his paranoid ideas about the bunny. Chester stole the show but Bunnicula is a better title. Just don't tell Chester that...I suspect he'd be highly offended.
October 31, 2021
Such a good read!!!
August 16, 2023
It was a lot of fun to be able to share this story with my 9-year-old son after loving it so much in grade school when I was young.
I had forgotten so much of the story and loved the animal narration, even if the humans were slightly annoying to me as an adult.
This is still a great classic middle grade read and still a solid 4 star read!
I had forgotten so much of the story and loved the animal narration, even if the humans were slightly annoying to me as an adult.
This is still a great classic middle grade read and still a solid 4 star read!
April 4, 2020
Bunnicula is a cute little children’s book that I may or may not have read as a child. I was vaguely familiar with the story, but I don’t specifically remember reading it. Even as an adult it was pretty entertaining; it made a great change of pace and a fun diversion.
The story is set in the household of a family with a mother, a father, two bratty sons, a dog, and a cat. It’s told from the perspective of the dog. One night the human part of the family comes home with a bunny, but this bunny seems to have some alarming traits�
It was a funny story and made me chuckle several times. I particularly liked Chester the cat whose cleverness and strangeness only slightly surpasses that of my own cat. I was a little disturbed to see how much chocolate the poor dog was fed, and I can’t help worrying a bit that children reading the book today might be inspired to feed their own dog chocolate after reading how happy it made Harold. Parental guidance suggested. ;)
The edition I read had some brief and interesting details about how the book came about. It also had some artwork from various cover editions over the years, including the book covers published for other languages.
The story is set in the household of a family with a mother, a father, two bratty sons, a dog, and a cat. It’s told from the perspective of the dog. One night the human part of the family comes home with a bunny, but this bunny seems to have some alarming traits�
It was a funny story and made me chuckle several times. I particularly liked Chester the cat whose cleverness and strangeness only slightly surpasses that of my own cat. I was a little disturbed to see how much chocolate the poor dog was fed, and I can’t help worrying a bit that children reading the book today might be inspired to feed their own dog chocolate after reading how happy it made Harold. Parental guidance suggested. ;)
The edition I read had some brief and interesting details about how the book came about. It also had some artwork from various cover editions over the years, including the book covers published for other languages.
December 30, 2021
When I go to work on the Bookmobile and I forgot my book at home, I always pick Bunnicula off the Bookmobile shelf and start reading. It's always the first book I reach for, and it is still just as charming as the first time I read it. Love!
February 25, 2020
Cute book! My student really liked it!
I made some Teachers Pay Teachers resources for this, if you are interested.
I made some Teachers Pay Teachers resources for this, if you are interested.
March 1, 2020
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.
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.
May 13, 2013
I had completely forgotten about reading this book as a child until a conversation with my best friend likening someone to a bunny with red eyes and fangs. Whereupon she said, wait, I'm pretty sure that's actually a book isn't it? She looked it up and yes, yes it was.
BUNNICULA is one of those children's books that I love! Literary references and large vocabulary words interwoven into an adorable little story. Although I had forgotten about this book, not hard to do when you book carnivore like I do, I now remember really enjoying it as a child.
It's written from Howard the dog's point of view which I always think is just so much fun. Full of lovely little references to Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Louis Stevenson, amongst others. Bunnicula is a bunny vampire who drains vegetables of their juices, could there be a better kids will be kids novel. Imagination is so important with children and this book just embodies that to me. It's not a life lessons book by any means, it's just for fun which I think is really great.
BUNNICULA is one of those children's books that I love! Literary references and large vocabulary words interwoven into an adorable little story. Although I had forgotten about this book, not hard to do when you book carnivore like I do, I now remember really enjoying it as a child.
It's written from Howard the dog's point of view which I always think is just so much fun. Full of lovely little references to Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Louis Stevenson, amongst others. Bunnicula is a bunny vampire who drains vegetables of their juices, could there be a better kids will be kids novel. Imagination is so important with children and this book just embodies that to me. It's not a life lessons book by any means, it's just for fun which I think is really great.
December 24, 2021
I had the pleasure of the company of my neighbor's 9-year-old granddaughter last night while her two grandmothers Christmas shopped.... for her, she hoped. She brought her book with her and after she fell asleep, I flipped through it, and then I sat down and read all 128 pages of this little charmer. Having Howard, the dog, be the narrator with his friend, Chester, the cat, was a stroke of genius. This book is so funny and absolutely perfect for all ages. Adults will enjoy the break it gives us from our everyday lives and the wonderful humor. The carrots and some of the other veggies were the only casualties in the story, and they were darn cute.
December 31, 2018
This book series was my childhood!
EDIT:
I recently reread this book as an adult and I still think it is fantastic
EDIT:
I recently reread this book as an adult and I still think it is fantastic
March 2, 2020
One of my favorite memories of childhood was going to the library and getting the record of "Bunnicula" out to listen to. Lou Jacobi narrated it. There's a newer version now with Victor Garber but its Lou's nasally, sarcastic Chester the cat and sardonic, gentle Harold the dog that stays with me.
I love this book. Its one of those childhood experiences that I just treasure. The thing I recall most is this feeling of perfect contentment while it played. Even though the story, about a possibly vampiric bunny rabbit invading the home of a cat with literary aspirations and a well meaning, bumbling sheep dog, was supposed to give me the willies it always just made me happy.
I must have listened to this a hundred times. I loved it so much that when its sequels and my especial favorite came out I actually recorded my own versions on my dad's tape deck. I'd sit for literally hours on the floor by our old out of tune piano doing all the voices and playing it back to make sure it was perfect.
Harold, the lovable dog, is the narrator. While his companion Chester (named for G.K. Chesterton) likes to think he's a blundering moron, its Harold's lovable, affable nature that inevitably gets them out of the sticky situations Chester gets them into. When their family, the Monroe's, come home from a rainy night at the movies with a small shoebox containing a tiny, baby bunny it takes Chester no time at all to become convinced that Bunnicula (so named because the Monroe's were seeing "Dracula" and because the markings on his fur make it look like he's wearing a black cape) is an ACTUAL vampire. And admittedly the evidence is pretty staggering. Bunnicula keeps escaping his cage without opening the door and random vegetables keep turning up drained of all their juice. Clearly something very strange is going on.
The mystery is just so charming and unique and the message, different doesn't have to equal bad, is understated enough to avoid being preachy. James Howe absolutely never panders to his audience, something even at the ripe old age of 10 or 11 I recognized and abhorred in most books for kids my age. He clearly recognized that kids want to hear stories! Sure you can offer little insights about tolerance and acceptance but it doesn't need to be the bloody Bernstein Bears all the damn time.
This book and its sequels are funny but they're also genuine. Its a little thing to grab on to but one of my favorite parts of these books is how the hijinks that always ensue are inevitably because Harold and Chester are pets and therefore not privy to the "reality" of whats happening in the house. Everything is through the lens of them being, well, animals! Its subtle but its soooo perfect. Not only does it lay the groundwork for all the slapstick comedy it makes younger readers feel super smart when they figure things out before our hero's do!
Something equally small that should be annoying but somehow adds to the charm is that its pretty obvious Mr. Jacobi didn't read his source material ahead of time or at least more than once. There's times when his sentences run on or a character voice is used for the wrong animal. I can very clearly hear my personal favorite moment even as I type this. Pete, the hormonal, teenage Monroe son is sarcastically saying goodnight to the animals and Harold isn't having it.
"Goodnight, smelly Harold. Goodnight, dumb Chester." I drooled on Pete's foot.
But the way Jacobi reads it it comes out like this;
"Goodnight smelly Harold Goodnight dumb Chester I drooled on Pete's foot."
I have no idea why, but I just love that.
I deeply regret losing my silly little recordings a very long time ago but I will never, ever forget those afternoons I spent sitting cross legged on the floor reading away like a little VO star or lying on the couch letting Mr. Jacobi lull me into the blissful trance that only a truly wonderful story can provide.
I love this book. Its one of those childhood experiences that I just treasure. The thing I recall most is this feeling of perfect contentment while it played. Even though the story, about a possibly vampiric bunny rabbit invading the home of a cat with literary aspirations and a well meaning, bumbling sheep dog, was supposed to give me the willies it always just made me happy.
I must have listened to this a hundred times. I loved it so much that when its sequels and my especial favorite came out I actually recorded my own versions on my dad's tape deck. I'd sit for literally hours on the floor by our old out of tune piano doing all the voices and playing it back to make sure it was perfect.
Harold, the lovable dog, is the narrator. While his companion Chester (named for G.K. Chesterton) likes to think he's a blundering moron, its Harold's lovable, affable nature that inevitably gets them out of the sticky situations Chester gets them into. When their family, the Monroe's, come home from a rainy night at the movies with a small shoebox containing a tiny, baby bunny it takes Chester no time at all to become convinced that Bunnicula (so named because the Monroe's were seeing "Dracula" and because the markings on his fur make it look like he's wearing a black cape) is an ACTUAL vampire. And admittedly the evidence is pretty staggering. Bunnicula keeps escaping his cage without opening the door and random vegetables keep turning up drained of all their juice. Clearly something very strange is going on.
The mystery is just so charming and unique and the message, different doesn't have to equal bad, is understated enough to avoid being preachy. James Howe absolutely never panders to his audience, something even at the ripe old age of 10 or 11 I recognized and abhorred in most books for kids my age. He clearly recognized that kids want to hear stories! Sure you can offer little insights about tolerance and acceptance but it doesn't need to be the bloody Bernstein Bears all the damn time.
This book and its sequels are funny but they're also genuine. Its a little thing to grab on to but one of my favorite parts of these books is how the hijinks that always ensue are inevitably because Harold and Chester are pets and therefore not privy to the "reality" of whats happening in the house. Everything is through the lens of them being, well, animals! Its subtle but its soooo perfect. Not only does it lay the groundwork for all the slapstick comedy it makes younger readers feel super smart when they figure things out before our hero's do!
Something equally small that should be annoying but somehow adds to the charm is that its pretty obvious Mr. Jacobi didn't read his source material ahead of time or at least more than once. There's times when his sentences run on or a character voice is used for the wrong animal. I can very clearly hear my personal favorite moment even as I type this. Pete, the hormonal, teenage Monroe son is sarcastically saying goodnight to the animals and Harold isn't having it.
"Goodnight, smelly Harold. Goodnight, dumb Chester." I drooled on Pete's foot.
But the way Jacobi reads it it comes out like this;
"Goodnight smelly Harold Goodnight dumb Chester I drooled on Pete's foot."
I have no idea why, but I just love that.
I deeply regret losing my silly little recordings a very long time ago but I will never, ever forget those afternoons I spent sitting cross legged on the floor reading away like a little VO star or lying on the couch letting Mr. Jacobi lull me into the blissful trance that only a truly wonderful story can provide.
March 2, 2020
All these people talking about the nostalgia behind reading these books as kids. And here I am, TODAY YEARS OLD, when I'm giggling like a kid reading about Chester, the crazy cat; Harold, the sweet dog; and...Bunnicula- dun, dun, DUUUUN.
But seriously, I loved the adorable innocence and hysterical capers of these animals.
The books are narrated by Harold, who is an unreliable narrator, constantly distracted by chocolate cupcakes and steak. He is buddies with Chester, the intelligent reading cat who may have some...issues, including narcissistic levels of pretention. And then there's Bunnicula. The vampire bunny who needs vegetable juice to survive. The family is so confused when they find white vegetables littering their kitchen floor, sucked clean of their juices. Oh, the carnage!
And side-note: this book really seems to be more about Chester, the crazy cat, than Bunnicula.
If you have kiddos, or are yourself a kiddo at heart (please say yes!), read this book! It's so much fun.
I'd rate this book a G.
But seriously, I loved the adorable innocence and hysterical capers of these animals.
The books are narrated by Harold, who is an unreliable narrator, constantly distracted by chocolate cupcakes and steak. He is buddies with Chester, the intelligent reading cat who may have some...issues, including narcissistic levels of pretention. And then there's Bunnicula. The vampire bunny who needs vegetable juice to survive. The family is so confused when they find white vegetables littering their kitchen floor, sucked clean of their juices. Oh, the carnage!
And side-note: this book really seems to be more about Chester, the crazy cat, than Bunnicula.
If you have kiddos, or are yourself a kiddo at heart (please say yes!), read this book! It's so much fun.
I'd rate this book a G.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,428 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.