Invasion of the Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6!

Tales from the House of Bunnicula #2

by James Howe, Brett Helquist (Illustrator)

Dear possible reader of this book,
After I wrote my first book, It Came from Beneath the Bed!, my editor asked me to write another one. (Another one! This is hard work! I'd like to see him write another one!) So anyway...in this book the lovable and smart (not to mention talented) wirehaired dachshund puppy named Howie and his friend, the beautiful and brilliant Delilah, face their biggest challenge the
Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6!™ Along the way Delilah gets turned into a squirrel and has to beg for acorns. (Hey, don't ask me! Read the book!)
My uncle Harold (who wrote a bunch of books about our friend Bunnicula), says he likes my book a lot, but it has too many adjectives. Delilah says I have a lot to learn about writing girl characters.
I have no idea what they're talking about. I just hope you like the story.
Your friend,
Howie

Genres: Middle Grade, Humor, Fiction, Horror, Animals, Childrens, Mystery

89 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Chelsea Hagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the books that have Howie the dachshund as the author. The books are for young readers but I think they really help a person who is learning to be a writer. This is why I really like them. Lots of clever writing tips.

[Stephanie Campos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a dog how writes a story about mind swappers from astroid 6.I would recommend this to people who like fantasy.I would rate this a 5 out of 5 because its has lots of fantasy and I like fantasy.

[Katherine Loyacano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invasion of the Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6 by James Howe is the second book in the Tales from the House of Bunnicula series. Howie receives a letter from his editor, who enjoyed his first book but requested a second book since the first one would work better in a series. After asking himself lots of questions (suggested to him by his Uncle Harold), Howie gets hard at work on writing his second story about how he and Delilah save the day when the Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6 invade Earth.

Book 2 of Howie’s writing adventures is just as enjoyable as the first book. The story alternates between Howie’s entries in his writing journal and the chapters of the story he is writing. I love seeing his writing process and his comments. My favorite entry is when Uncle Harold tells Howie that being lazy is not a good trait in a writer. Howie writes, “I reminded him I’m an author now. He said I need to watch out for arrogance. I told him if I saw any coming at me, I’d duck. HA! Howie is such a funny and adorable pooch.

Uncle Harold continues to be supportive and patient while also doling out some wisdom (like watching out for arrogance). Delilah is back, but makes it clear to Howie that she was none too pleased with his character portrayal of her in his last story. Howie tries to make amends but ends up getting in more hot water with Delilah. I think their relationship is hilarious. Other beloved characters make an appearance in Howie’s story as well. Kudos to James Howe for another amusing story and to Brett Helquist for more amazing illustrations. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this entertaining series.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another thoroughly delightful and funny installment in the adventures of wire haired dachshund puppy Howie, and his friend, Delilah, told as a new story written by aspiring author Howie! This time they’re taking on an invasion of body snatchers that even take over puppy Delilah’s body.

Never underestimate Howie’s ability to discern what’s happening in his town of Centerville, and find a way to rescue everyone. In this story, Delilah gets to find her voice and make sure Howie knows she is a smart and capable puppy. You go, Delilah!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite but the boy still enjoyed it.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good enough, I guess. Probably hilarious for an 8-year-old. Made me miss the writing/quality of Bunnicula.

[Gina Hormann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is hilarious! My son can’t get enough. ❤️

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

such a goofy book glad his girlfriend asked him to make her smarter haha

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We really enjoyed the Bunnicula series by James Howe; our girls just love them. We've also read the books in the Bunnicula and Friends series and a few of the books in the Harold & Chester series, so the characters in these stories feel like old friends.

This is the second book in the Tales From the House of Bunnicula series, books that are written from Howie's point of view. The story line is very conversational and is written as a combination of journal entries and chapters from a story that Howie writes. The narrative is quite entertaining and the illustrations are fun, too. We really enjoyed reading this book together and we will be sure to read more of the books in this series.

[Suki · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, he still write journals of how to become a better writer. I like the spirit of his journals because it shows the inner child in him. It gives me a picture of a care-free, innocent writer. He still believes in fantasy where animals can talk like humans. His characters come from his everyday life experiences such as the dog, squirrel, cat, his uncle, friend, etc... If i was his friend, i would be so proud to be used as one of the characters in his book. It would be so cool to be mentioned. I think it would be interesting if my mind swapped with someone else. I want to swap my mind with my mom and feel the environment she is in. I want to understand more about my mom and her work and her social life. My mom would be stuck taking tests, doing projects, writing loads of essays for me. hahahahaha i don't need to think anymore for school. Hooray!

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































!

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd heard of Bunnicula and never read any of the related books. Picked this up for 20 cents thinking it featured the critter. Turns out this is a spin-off of sorts. Lightning fast read and written in a fun style that younger children will enjoy, with plenty that slightly older children and adults in touch with their inner child will find to smile at.

It's 88 pages but that's really an exaggeration... turns out wire-haired dachshund puppies leave a lot of white space and puppy prints on a few pages!

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was crazy and confusing and annoying and oh i can't describe it with all the vocabulary in the world! but it was definitely something that you can expect from a dog like howie. this book was ok but not great.

[kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Howie, the humorous, over confident pup, now officially an author thanks to his uncle's guidance, is back with his beloved sidekick Delilah, developing a new adventure for his readers. Fun, silly, short adventure told from a clever point of view. Really good series.

[Jayfeather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a funny book about an alien invasion! It is quite funny with Howie Monroe as your host, who is known from the tale(s) of 'Bunnicula'. And I especially love the in between parts of 'Howie's Writing Journal'.

[Callie]

This book is very goofy. In the story Howie a small puppy and his friend Delilah are the only ones who know what is happening when the earth is attacked by aliens. I loved the ending and the way the book was written and organized. I think it deserves an outstanding four.

[Rose]

F How

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! I am liking the Tales from the House of Bunnicula even better than the original Bunnicula.

[Audrey Cutlip · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was the last one i read but i LOVED it. It just kept me reading it.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

rather silly but entertaining. I laughed out loud.

[Darren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very fun.

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book it is very funny

[Tiffiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read by my 10-yr-old son. He blazed through this one.

[Earline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy this story as much as the first in the series. I do like the journal aspects and the over-the-top comedy. I thought it was creative, but not as genuine.

[Aiyana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable!

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aliens, dogs, squirrels. These books are weird. Howie the dog talks about his writing the book as we read the book.

[Emelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you haven't read this book... One word: SQUIRRELS!