eVersion 1.0
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery
25th Anniversary Edition
Bunnicula Book 1
by Deborah and James Howe
2004
Jacket Text
Books by James Howe
A Few Words About Bunnicula’s 25th Anniversary
Editor’s Note
The Arrival
Music in the Night
Some Unusual Goings-On
A Cat Prepares
Chester Goes into His Act
Harold Helps Out
A (New) Friend in Need
Disaster in the Dining Room
All’s Well that Ends Well … Almost
Publication Info
Jacket Text
Front Flap
IN 1979 ATHENEUM FIRST PUBLISHED Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery to great acclaim. A beloved story that has become a modem classic with millions of copies in print worldwide, Bunnicula has made countless children laugh and carrots quake with terror. With an eyecatching new jacket by C. F. Payne and a new preface from James Howe, this is the perfect opportunity to introduce a brand-new generation of readers to the crazy antics of Bunnicula, Chester, and Harold.
It all begins when the Monroes go to see the movie Dracula. At the theater, Toby finds something on his seat—a baby rabbit, which the family takes home and names Bunnicula. It proves to be an apt name, at least as far as Chester the cat is concerned. Well-read and observant, Chester soon decides that there is something odd about the newcomer. For one thing, he seems to have fangs. And the odd markings on his back look a bit like a cape. Furthermore, Bunnicula sleeps from sunup to sundown and is only awake at night. And then there are the vegetables … the white vegetables.
Is Bunnicula really a vampire? Only Bunnicula knows for sure. But the story of Chester’s suspicions and their consequences—as told by his canine pal, Harold—makes uproarious reading.
Rear Flap
James How wrote the award-winning best-seller Bunnicula with his late wife, Deborah Howe, in 1977. The couple went on to write one other children’s book, Teddy Bear’s Scrapbook, before Deborah’s untimely death from cancer in 1978.
After Bunnicula’s publication in 1979, James Howe quit his job as a literary agent to pursue writing full-time. His many other popular books for children include the five sequels to Bunnicula; The Tales from the House of Bunnicula series; the Bunnicula and Friends Ready-to-Read series; the Sebastian Barth mysteries; the Pinky and Rex series; A Night Without Stars; Morgan’s Zoo; and the picture books Horace and Morris But Mostly Dolores, Horace and Morris join the Chorus (but what about Dolores?), and Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus’ Name Amen. He is also the author of several acclaimed novels for older readers, such as The Misfits and The Watcher, and is the editor of the anthologies The Color of Absence: 12 Stories About Loss and Hope and 13: Thirteen Stories That Capture the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen. James Howe lives in New York State.
JACKET ILLUSTRATIONS COPYRIGHT © 2004 BY C. F. PAYNE
JACKET DESIGN BY RUSSELL GORDON
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Rear Cover
“Luckily Bunnicula is the kind of story that does not age, and in all probability, will never die. Or stay dead, anyway …”
—Neil Gaiman
“Bunnicula was one funny, scary, must-read vampire bunny when he first showed up. Now it’s twenty-five years later, and he hasn’t changed a bit. Very scary. Very funny.”
—Jon Scieszka
“As a kid, I saw the classic movie Dracula and became instantly afraid of vampires. Many years later, I read the classic children’s book Bunnicula. Now—in addition to vampires—I am also afraid of bunnies. I hope you’re happy, Jim.”
—Barbara Park
“James Howe is the king! Bunnicula rules!!!” —Dav Pilkey
Books by James Howe
Bunnicula Books
Bunnicula (with Deborah Howe)
Howliday Inn
The Celery Stalks at Midnight
Nighty-Nightmare
Return to Howliday Inn
Bunnicula Strikes Again!
Bunnicula and Friends
The Vampire Bunny
Hot Fudge
Picture Books
There’s a Monster Under My Bed
There’s a Dragon in My Sleeping Bag
Teddy Bear’s Scrapbook (with Deborah Howe)
Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores
Horace and Morris Join the Chorus (but what about Dolores?)
Kaddish for Grandpa in Jesus’ name amen
Tales from the House of Bunnicula
It Came from Beneath the Bed!
Invasion of the Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6!
Howie Monroe and the Doghouse of Doom
Screaming Mummies of the Pharaoh’s Tomb II
Bud Barkin, Private Eye
The
Sebastian Barth Mysteries
What Eric Knew
Stage Fright
Eat Your Poison, Dear
Dew Drop Dead
Pinky and Rex Series
Pinky and Rex
Pinky and Rex Get Married
Pinky and Rex and the Mean Old Witch
Pinky and Rex and the Spelling Bee
Pinky and Rex Go to Camp
Pinky and Rex and the New Baby
Pinky and Rex and the Double-Dad Weekend
Pinky and Rex and the Bully
Pinky and Rex and the New Neighbors
Pinky and Rex and the Perfect Pumpkin
Pinky and Rex and the School Play
Pinky and Rex and the Just-Right Pet
Novels
A Night Without Stars
Morgan’s Zoo
The Watcher
The Misfits
Edited by James Howe
The Color of Absence: Twelve Stories about Loss and Hope
13: Thirteen Stories That Capture the Agony and Ecstasy of Being Thirteen
TO
MILDRED AND LESTER SMITH—
WITH LOVE
A Few Words About Bunnicula’s 25th Anniversary