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After reading Bunnicula as part of the "Classic Chapter Books" reading assignment for SLIS 5420, I feel very sad for the poor, never moved nor checked out copy of Bunnicula on my library shelf. I promise a better future for that old copy and hopefully, a better future for many more copies, too.
Summary
On the opening page of Bunnicula (1979), readers meet Harold, the Monroe's' loving and intelligent dog. Harold serves as the narrator for the book and does he definitely have a story to tell! After a series of fortunate events at the movies that evening, the Monroe's have become the proud owners of a cute, fluffy bunny rabbit.
The Monroe's are excited to host a new pet (in addition to Harold and a cat named Chester) into the family. The two boys, Toby and Peter are especially excited. A few days after the appropriately named Bunnicula, has joined the family, Harold and Chester begin to notice the bunny's strange behaviors; from sleeping all day to vegetables mysteriously turning white, Chester becomes determined that Bunnicula is a vampire! While the human members of the Monroe family are concerned with their damaged vegetables, they don't make a connection between their new family pet and the problem.
Chester, however, is convinced they've taken a dangerous monster into their family. With the help of Harold, lots of garlic, and a grandfather clock, the two set off to expose Bunnicula. Yet, after careful observation and some one-sided conversations, Harold begins to develop a friendship with Bunnicula. And, when Chester decides that starving Bunnicula is the only solution to the family's problem, Harold graciously (and messily!) rescues the poor, hungry bunny from Chester's wrath!
My Thoughts
This fast-paced, quirky and comical tale of family pets (and Dracula) warmed my heart and made me smile. The relationships between the characters reminds me of my family pets . One of the Monroe's two young boys, Toby, feeds Harold chocolate cake and cheese crackers (Harold's favorite!)- affirming the idea that the way to a dog's heart really is through his stomach.
When told well, stories narrated by family pets, like Bunnicula, are some of my favorites- especially when they include a fang-toothed bunny! This week, I've found myself referring to Bunnicula several times in my conversations with my boyfriend, Colin. I've been talking to his dog, Sasha, just as if she were Harold- and imagining Harold's thoughts to be similar to hers. When she put her paws on the new couch, I thought about Harold's love of putting his paws on the counter (441), "I jumped up on a chair, and in all the excitement, no one noticed that I had my paws on the table."
What Have Others Said?
In an original review from Booklist in 1979, Hearne describes Bunnicula as a book that "...will offer young readers the entertainment of mystery and spoof. A sure read-aloud and a nice follow-up for fans of Don and Joan Caufield’s Incredible Detectives." Similar to my thoughts above, Hearne (1979) also describes Harold the dog as one who "...narrates this caper with all the dignity appropriate to one of his nature and background. By occupation he is a dog, but by preoccupation he’s a concerned participant in events that rock his usually stable professional family...."
Always curious to read what the folks at www.commonsensemedia.org have to say about a text, I sought out their review next. And, here's what S. K. List had to say:
Thousands of young readers have given this book their approval, and they're sure to be joined by thousands more -- with good reason. In fact, kids with even a smidgeon of attraction to horror will gobble this book up. And for over 20 years, they already have. One typical older fan remembers the book vividly: "It's funny, creative, and just silly enough not to be stupid. The animals are well characterized, too, in the way they talk. It's a great book."
The lighthearted inspiration that led Deborah and James Howe to almost daydream this book into reality shines through its pages, charming and amusing the reader. The intelligent Chester and his down-to-earth chum, Harold, go their separate ways over the dangers the fanged bunny brings into their home. But their differences are resolved in the end, with the vampire mystery lingering just enough to support … a sequel. (Several of them!)Some Ideas for the Library or Classroom
I am excited to return to 3D and recommend this book to my students- I have several in mind that I know will enjoy it. I plan to suggest the book to some of the 3rd and 4th graders that are ready to read books at a higher reading level with more intricate vocabulary, but are not necessarily ready to tackle a longer book yet. (Ahh... the age old problem of fluency vs. comprehension raises its Bunnciula-like fangs again!!) In addition, I think this book will serve as a "gateway" to some other classic books. (I often struggle to get students to read the "older" books- they always want to read the new, shiny, popular texts). If I can get them to try a short classic like this one, maybe I can convince some of them to try another... and another... and another!
I also think Bunnicula would be an awesome text for a lesson on context clues. The authors use very complex vocabulary (reverie appears on the first page) and students could easily partner read aloud the text, search for challenging words, use context clues to determine the meaning of the words, and verify the meaning with the dictionary. Here's to using authentic literature in the English class!
References:
Hearne,
B. (1979, May 15). Bunnicula: A rabbit-tale of mystery [Review
of the book Bunnicula, by Deborah and
James Howe]. Booklist.
Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/Bunnicula-A-Rabbit-Tale-of-Mystery-Deborah-Howe/pid=2650022?pid=2650022
Howe,
D., & Howe, J. (1979). Bunnicula: A rabbit-tale of mystery.
New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
List,
S. K. (2012). Bunnicula:
A rabbit-tale of mystery [Review of the book Bunnicula,
by Deborah and James Howe]. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/bunnicula-rabbit-tale-mystery
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