I know, I said I wouldn't read any further Bunnicula books after I finished rereading Return to Howliday Inn and the four other "original" Bunnicula books from my childhood. I knew. Continuity freaks.But I couldn't avoid it. The book would just fall into my hands. Fall right into my hands from deep in the free shelf. Who am I to avoid fate?The book was a bit of a stretch, involving as it did the serie's flagship character who never does anything at all except sleep or wrinkle his nose. This outing was no different, when Bunnicula does take some action (no striking, no revenge) its offstage and its, of course, Chester and Harold who do the legwork. I don't know why this bothers me so much. A slim child's book, a stepping-stone for readers involving talking animals and horror puns, that lacks substantial character development. What? I'm sorry kids, I'll keep my lens away from your books....Because I can see how a kid could really get into this, and how I would have if this had been published in '94 instead of '99. All the humor and basic elements are there, the only issue is how aware this book is that its a sequel. Most children's series need little more than a brief sketch of key past situations near the beginning of the story, but Howe uses almost whole chapters-worth of space on not only biographical details or reintroductions of characters (which are needed for young readers) but whole plots from previous books. Seemed odd.But the best elements from the previous books are here: literary allusions, Howie puns, expressive illustrations and bonkers Chester. So by all means, if you or your child enjoyed the previous books, get this one, too.
In the fifth installment of the Bunnicula series, Chester the cat once again believes that Bunnicula is a danger and must be dealt with. Yeah, sorry about ending the sentence with a preposition... Anyway, the old theater where Bunnicula was found is going to be torn down and Chester is convinced that Bunnicula is hiding out there, looking for his mother. As they chase down their hoppity friend, Chester, Harold and Howie run into some familiar faces from Chateau Bow-Wow. But they need to hurry and make sure Bunnicula is not in the theater before it is demolished!Once again, Howe delivers an extremely intelligent and humorous story that will entertain both children and adults. While I don't expect adults to pick up this book for themselves, it is a wonderful book and series to read aloud with your children.As with the others in the series, Howe does not talk down to his intended audience. On the contrary, he speaks to them as he would anyone else, sort of like the Monroes speak to their pets. Chester's passion for conspiracies, Harold's laid back demeanor and Howie's youthful excitement practically jump off the pages. And of course my favorite parts are Howie's puns. That just never gets old.And as if reading the book isn't enough, both Chester and Howie enjoy reading books too. In all fairness, Harold also enjoys books... eating them, that is.Bunnicula Strikes Again is another wonderful book in the Bunnicula series, all of which I highly recommend.
What do You think about Bunnicula Strikes Again! (2001)?
So I am way out of order for this one too. This is the end of the series because **spoiler alert** Chester learns to love Bunnicula. I know my niece will enjoy this one because it actually specifies the city as Centerville, which is a city that she has really lived in. So even though it is fictional, I am sure she will be imagining the city she knows. Wow to all the new additions to the household by the time we get to this book. So many dogs running through the house! This is not at all scary for kids. Its not a great literary work, they may miss some of the puns, but I am sure many kids will enjoy this book.
—Melissa Namba
I loved "Bunnicula Strikes Again!" I am not sure but I think it is the second book in the series. It is a really good story told from the perspective of Harold the dog. Personified animals are the main characters in the story. There is Harold the dog who tells the story; Chester the cat who is the antagonist in the story; Howie the puppy who is basically along for the ride; and Bunnicula the vampire rabbit. The original Bunnicula involved Chester trying to prove that Bunnicula is a vampire rabbit. "Bunnicula Strikes Again!" continues along the same vein. However in the sequel Chester knows Bunnicula is a vampire rabbit and he is trying to keep Bunnicula from destroying the world. This is a great story that I think children will enjoy reading. There are some vocabulary words that students may find challenging but they can look the words up in the dictionary which will add to their reading vocabulary."Bunnicula Strikes Again!" is a great story that I highly recommend.
—Ginta Harrigan
We've been working our way slowly through the Bunnicula series by James Howe and our girls just love them. The stories are just scary enough, with endings that show that nothing was what it seemed and there was nothing to be frightened of after all. This story takes us back to the origins of the first story: the Centerville Cinema. It's a landmark building and about to be destroyed. When Bunnicula disappears, Harold, Chester and Howie go on an a dangerous adventure to find him. We enjoyed reading this story together and we are looking forward to the last book in the series, Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow.
—Dolly
