Read on for another look back into the archives! This week, our intern Catherine chose to re-read an old favorite: Bunnicula by Deborah and James Howe!

I decided to read Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of a Mystery by Deborah and James Howe. I remember being especially spooked by the series as a kid and couldn’t wait to delve in. By the time I finished reading the book, I found myself searching the internet to try and find a series book set- clearly my book nostalgia choice didn’t disappoint.

Just to recap: The Monroe household pets, Chester the cat and Harold the dog, get an unexpected, and soon unfortunate, addition to their home when the Monroes bring a rabbit home from the movies. After Mr. & Mrs. Monroe and their sons, Pete and Toby, name the new pet “Bunnicula,” Chester the cat gets suspicious that the rabbit is, in fact, a vampire. Throughout the rest of the book there are strange happenings going on in the Monroe household and Chester is determined to discover the truth about Bunnicula, while Harold defends his new rabbit friend.

What I remember: The first time I read Bunnicula, as a kid, I remember being thrilled by the idea of finding a rabbit in the movie theater, wrapped with a ribbon, wearing a tag with writing in a mysterious language. I was really into mystery books at this stage of my life — even though they terrified me. I remember loving the camaraderie between Chester and Harold and being frightened by the idea of a pet turning into a vampire (I had a lot of pets and as a kid their transformation into vampires seemed realistic).

After re-visiting the book Bunnicula I have a deeper appreciation for the Howes’ writing. I had completely forgotten that Chester loved to read and even read Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher,” which I read in my 19th Century American Literature course during my freshman year at college. Chester’s literature preferences along with the author’s use of words like “digress” and “reverie” made me realize that the Bunnicula series is at a more advanced reading level than I recalled. For this reason, the series would also be a great choice for parents deciding what to read to their children, because as I found after rereading — young readers aren’t the book’s only audience!

Do you have fond memories of Bunnicula? Leave ‘em in the comments!