SOLVED. Children's chapter book from late 80s/early 90s about a family on a road trip of some kind who get waylaid at a big mysterious house. There's a radio personality there named "Skip Toomaloo" . [s]

[Lindsaygail]

I read this as a child, late 80s or early 90s. This was a story about a family on a road trip of some kind who get waylaid at a big mysterious house. There's a radio personality there named "Skip Toomaloo" and I seem to remember there's also a giant rabbit. (Or maybe Skip is the rabbit? Not sure.) The house ends up being some kind of giant puzzle. The family gets separated and have to try to find their way out. They keep hearing the rabbit's voice saying rhymes that are parodies of nursery rhymes (and maybe the rhymes have clues in them to help them get through the house? Again, not sure.) One of the rhymes I remember begins "Hey diddle diddle, you're fat in the middle".

[Tab]

The story line doesn't fit, but Monster of the Year by Bruce Coville mentions a "Skip Toomaloo" according to Google Books.

Maybe, it is one of Bruce Coville's other books.

Do you remember anything about the cover?
Part of a series?

[Lindsaygail]

I just went through Bruce Coville's books, (man, that guy is prolific!) and I don't see it. I did rediscover his My Teacher is an Alien series though, I'd forgotten about those.

I think the giant talking rabbit was on the cover of the one I'm looking for, but that's all I remember. I want to say it was a Dell paperback, just because my vague impression is that the cover art was the style they were doing during that time period.

[Tab]

Do you think the book was more of a mystery, horror, humor, or something else?

[Lindsaygail]

I'd say it was humor/ mystery.

[Lindsaygail]

Solved! It's Scared Silly by Eth Clifford!

[El]

Scared Silly for any future clicks.

Glad you found your book, Lindsaygail.