Vampire Bunny (Bunnicula and Friends Series #1) ANNOTATION
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.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
One dark and stormy night, the Monroes bring home a new pet: a little black-and-white rabbit. Because the Monroes found him at a Dracula movie, they name the rabbit Bunnicula. Harold the dog thinks Bunnicula is just a cute little bunny. But Chester the cat is worried.
Bunnicula sleeps all day and wakes up at night. And Bunnicula doesn't have little bunny teeth -- he has fangs. Is Bunnicula really just a harmless little bunny? Or is he something much, much more scary?
FROM THE CRITICS
Children's Literature - Sharon Salluzzo
Harold the dog recounts how the Monroes found a bunny at the movie theatre on a stormy night. They brought it home and soon discovered some strange occurrences, such as the appearance of a white tomato. Chester the cat is convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire and tries to protect himself and the kitchen from him. Sound familiar? It should, for James Howe has retold the original story, which was written with Deborah Howe, in language and format suitable for a Level 3 "Ready to Read" series book. Mack's illustrations present a very expressive Chester and provide clues about the storyline to the reader. The story is much richer in its original book where the language and phrases create much of its humor. The repackaging weakens the story. A child will gain so much more by waiting to read the original Bunnicula. Can't wait? Then have a parent or teacher read the original aloud. 2004, Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster, Ages 6 to 8.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1-Suffering from a cold, Mole retires to his bed and dreams of traveling to distant lands. When he awakens, he finds his friends Owl, Squirrel, and Badger surrounding his bed and taking care of him. But how did he get that shiny new red shovel, if this has all been a dream? With repeated readings, children may realize that the climate of each country mimics Mole's cold symptoms. He is shivery in the land of ice and feverish in the desert. Finally the fever breaks in the tropical and humid forest. Large, colorful illustrations with a luxurious oil-painting quality fill each dramatic page. One small quibble: the cover art shows Mole carrying his red shovel riding atop Bear, but he didn't win it until a subsequent adventure in a desert camel race. A supplemental friendship story.-Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
For his 25th anniversary, Bunnicula is being ushered into one of the last children's literature formats he has yet to invade: the easy reader. Harold the dog narrates the story of Bunnicula's arrival at the Monroe house. The family discovers the bunny with the cape-shaped markings at a Dracula movie and white vegetables begin to turn up. Chester, the family's excitable cat, wigs out: he's sure the bunny will go after the animals and people once he's done with the veggies. Chester starves poor Bunnicula by barring his path to the kitchen with garlic, but Harold saves the day and Bunnicula. Mack's new, acrylic illustrations are more cartoonish, but Bunnicula and friends have never been more adorable. This is a good abridgement by Heather Henson, and it might lead readers to the rest of the series. It's to be hoped that Bunnicula will get all new adventures instead of more retreads to satisfy the promise of more to come. (Easy reader. 6-8)
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