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The Monroe family pets feel their fur stand on end when a witch walks through the door on Halloween and grabs Bunnicula, the vampire rabbit, in this spellbinding new tale by the author of "The Celery Stalks at Midnight" and "Howliday Inn". Full color.

40 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 9, 2005

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104 people want to read

About the author

James Howe

207 books461 followers
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.

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5 stars
41 (32%)
4 stars
46 (35%)
3 stars
36 (28%)
2 stars
5 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
Profile Image for Calista.
5,437 reviews31.3k followers
March 10, 2018
Harold and the gang are back and it's Halloween. Chester is as paranoid as ever and Bunicular is quiet as always. The family dress up and go out to a party. The animals get scared by all the kids looking so scary and dressed up. There is a witch in the story and the animals are creeped out. There is a surprise at the end. It's a safe little story for beginning readers.

It was entertaining for that level of book.
Profile Image for Dolly.
Author 1 book669 followers
March 11, 2018
We enjoyed the Bunnicula story and found this book and another titled Scared Silly: A Halloween Treat at our library. We didn't realize that the two stories we borrowed were basically the same tale with different titles until we read them, but still, we liked the tale and loved the illustrations. We are looking forward to reading more of these stories soon.
Profile Image for Rachel.
2,839 reviews62 followers
October 13, 2017
This one is my son's current favorite book. Bunnicula, Harold, Chester and Howie (the Monroe's new puppy) are getting ready for Halloween. Howie is scared of everything and Chester is suspicious of Bunnicula and thinks he is the cause of all kinds of trouble. A witch comes in and causes some mischief. Who is she and what does she want? To find out, read the exciting third book in the series. Recommended for ages 5-8 year olds, 4 stars.
Profile Image for Danielle.
1,061 reviews7 followers
September 8, 2011
Very cute book to read with a child around Halloween. Also good for a beginning reader to read to themselves.
Profile Image for Marian.
880 reviews25 followers
March 4, 2014
Some books just feel like the holiday that they're based around. Scared Silly *feels* like Halloween distilled into one short story.
Profile Image for Sarah Stumphf.
521 reviews24 followers
September 30, 2015
Although this is a very cute book, it was pretty predictable. My 4 year old knew what the ending was going to be half way through the book, which pretty much took the fun out of it.
Profile Image for Mariah Roze.
1,067 reviews1,054 followers
April 20, 2016
This book is great! Loved the Halloween theme. These are great books to get students to love to read. A great series!
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 2 books30 followers
December 27, 2016
Bunnicula and his pals are back. Something spooking is happening this Halloween and the pets are afraid...very afraid!
916 reviews
November 7, 2024
Bunnicula's eyes glow red and she has fangs. The Monroe's go out and the animals are scared when a witch comes in and lights go out. The witch takes Bunnicula in the kitchen and she makes something bubbling on the stove. The dogs race in to rescue Bunnicula and she climbs on Harold's back. They try to get out of the house, but scary creatures were covering the door. Read this fun book to find out what happens next.
Profile Image for Heather.
813 reviews46 followers
July 2, 2018
Cute little book. I love Halloween, so I'll share this one with my niece's and nephew.
1,059 reviews3 followers
October 1, 2023
A silly Halloween story with a ( vampire?) Bunny, a cat, and two dogs.
Profile Image for Amber Greer.
550 reviews1 follower
October 1, 2024
It’s really cute. Great Halloween book for a young kid (around 4-7 years old) who’s starting to read or likes to read.
39 reviews
April 21, 2017
Left alone at home on Halloween night, the animals of the Monroe household suspect the worst – though they aren’t sure what that is – and of course they suspect it of Bunnicula, the family’s vampire rabbit. They vow to keep an eye on the unusual bunny. But when a witch enters their home, and takes Bunnicula into the kitchen they start to worry even more, for Bunnicula’s safety! Will Bunnicula wind up in a witch’s brew? Transitional chapter book readers will enjoy this silly Halloween caper, as well as the colorful acrylic illustrations by Jeff Mack.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews