Module 2: Bunnicula

Module 2 of my Literature for Youth course focused on classic children's literature.  One of the books I read for this module was Bunnicula, written by Deborah and James Howe and illustrated by Alan Daniel.

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Bunnicula is the story of Chester the cat, Harold the dog, and the Monroe family.  One night, the Monroes go out to the movies, returning home with a bunny they found in the movie theater.  Chester the cat becomes suspicious of the new arrival after some mysterious things start happening in the Monroe house.  He and Harold seek to find out the truth about Bunnicula (who was named in honor of the movie Dracula, which the Monroes had gone to see when they found the bunny).  In the end they discover something very peculiar about the rabbit, try to expose his secrets to the Monroe family, and in the end, Bunnicula returns from a vet visit where he was put on a diet of vegetable juice.  You must read the book to find out why!

I found this book to be very entertaining.  Chester is a very intellectual cat who likes to read books while the rest of the family is asleep.  Harold is a good-natured dog who goes along with Chester's wild ideas, and in the end, they discover the truth.  While this book is a mystery, it is also a bit fantastical, since the main characters (the animals) talk to one another and exhibit very human-like behaviors - at least when the Monroes aren't looking!

Reviewer Jill Bennett, of Books for Keeps wrote the following review of Bunnicula: 

"A literate dog, named Harold, is the narrator of this unusual story of a vampire rabbit. Harold lives with the Monroes, an American family with two sons and a cat, Chester. Bunnicula is a baby rabbit discovered in the cinema during a Dracula film by one of the Monroe boys. At first the new pet seems harmless enough but Chester isn't convinced and then strange things start happening: white tomatoes with 'suspicious marks in the skin', for instance. Those juniors willing to suspend their disbelief sufficiently will very likely enjoy this extremely tall tale; I however found it just too far fetched."

Bennett goes on to suggest another book in the Bunnicula series, which she believes readers of this book would also enjoy.  As she points out in the review, the plot is perhaps a bit far-fetched (especially from an adult's point of view), but I don't think that makes this a bad book, by any means.  I would suggest this book for elementary aged students, or anyone who loves animals, mysteries, or a bit of silliness in their reading material.  Librarians could include this book in their activities by hosting a book club - the first week could be spent discussing the book itself, and subsequent meetings could be used to write and  stories inspired by the book.

References:

Bennett, J.  (1989).  Bunnicula.  In Books for Keeps, 56(May).

Howe, D. & Howe, J., Daniel, A.  (ill.).  (1979).  Bunnicula.  New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.