Bunnicula

Bunnicula

Company type	Book series
Industry	Children's literature
Founded	1979
Founder	James Howe, Deborah Howe
Products	Children's books

Bunnicula is a children's book series authored by James Howe and Deborah Howe. The inaugural novel introduces a rabbit with vampire-like qualities named Bunnicula, who extracts juice from vegetables. Deborah passed away in June 1978 prior to the book’s release, after which James continued the series independently. Between 1979 and 2006, Atheneum Books published seven installments.

Bunnicula

The main character is a seemingly innocuous rabbit exhibiting subtle vampiric characteristics. Toby Monroe discovers Bunnicula during a Dracula movie screening. Throughout the series, Chester frequently targets him, though the creators never definitively explained Bunnicula’s true identity.

Harold

An elderly, scruffy dog owned by the Monroe family who serves as the story’s narrator.

Chester

A proud and imaginative orange tabby cat who initially views Bunnicula with suspicion and jealousy but eventually forms a friendship with him. Chester is fond of literature and milk and often displays paranoid tendencies.

Howie

A playful Dachshund puppy adopted from Chateau Bow-Wow kennel, who regards Chester as a paternal figure.

Peter "Pete" Monroe

The elder of two brothers, characterized by laziness and occasional bullying behavior toward his younger sibling Toby and the family pets—excluding Bunnicula.

Toby Monroe

The younger brother, known for his kindness and gentleness, who shares treats with Harold and is adored by the pets. He is responsible for bringing Bunnicula into the household.

Series plot

The storyline follows the Monroe family and their pets through the eyes of Harold. The family adopts Bunnicula after finding him at a theater during a screening of Dracula.

Howliday Inn (1982)

While the Monroe family vacations, they place Harold and Chester at Chateau Bow-Wow kennel where they encounter other dogs including Louise, a poodle, along with two uncommon wire-haired dachshunds named Heather and Howard. When kennel proprietor Dr. Greenbriar takes leave, employees Jill and Harrison become overwhelmed. Louise vanishes, followed by Chester, who suspects foul play. Chester later uncovers that Harrison abducted them upon discovering one dog was valuable—the dachshunds. Upon returning home, the Monroes adopt Howie, the smallest dachshund pup.

The Celery Stalks at Midnight (1983)

With Bunnicula missing, Chester worries that vegetables drained of juice might become vampire minions intent on taking over the town. Alongside Harold and Howie, he investigates and observes Toby and Pete dressed in dark cloaks holding children captive. The pets panic until it’s revealed they were rehearsing for a school carnival play. Bunnicula participates in the school’s pet show. The title alludes to John Whitney's 1951 animated short film.

Nighty Nightmare (1987)

During a camping trip at Boggy Lake intended to add excitement to Mr. Monroe’s life, he goes with Harold, Chester, and Howie. They meet Bud, Spud, and their dog Dawg. Dawg leads the pets away from their owners toward a cabin in the woods. Chester suspects Bud and Spud intend harm toward the Monroes and uses a tale about Bunnicula’s origins to lull Dawg to sleep so they can escape. Everyone falls asleep but wakes before dawn to find their camp deserted. Dawg reveals that the cabin belongs to him; meanwhile, the Monroes had stayed there overnight to avoid rain and are safe.

Return to Howliday Inn (1992)

Harold, Chester, and Howie—the Monroe pets—make their way back to Chateau Bow-Wow, which now accommodates new residents including a melancholy Great Dane named Hamlet. Upon learning that Hamlet was deserted, they track down his owner's new residence, a nursing facility that prohibits animals. Employing ventriloquism skills taught by Hamlet's ventriloquist owner, the pets collaborate with the patients to convince the staff to permit Hamlet to remain. Later, the trio uses ventriloquism once more to trick the Monroes during pickup.

Bunnicula Strikes Again! (1999)

Chester once more suspects Bunnicula of vampiric behavior and attempts to deprive him by consuming his juice. When Bunnicula becomes ill, Harold observes him shedding tears and believes he longs for his mother. After an unsuccessful search, Bunnicula is taken to a veterinarian. Chester and Bunnicula become trapped beneath debris but are rescued unharmed by the Monroes. Ultimately, Chester comes to accept Bunnicula.

Bunnicula Meets Edgar Allan Crow (2006)

Author M.T. Graves arrives at the Monroes' home accompanied by his pet crow, Edgar Allan Crow. Chester harbors suspicions about Graves, fearing a crow-related plot to turn Bunnicula into a bat. When Bunnicula escapes, the group gives chase; doubts about Graves intensify but are dispelled when a black bag is shown to contain stuffed animals. Graves confesses he remained to overcome his fear of animals.

Spin-offs

Following the original series, James developed Tales from the House of Bunnicula, narrated by Howie, the Dachshund introduced in Howliday Inn. The Bunnicula and Friends: Ready to Read collection includes six picture books designed for early readers.

Adaptations

In 1982, Ruby-Spears produced an animated television special aired on the ABC Weekend Special, adapting the initial book.

A loosely based animated series premiered on Cartoon Network and Boomerang on February 6, 2016.

Stage versions include a production by Jon Klein at Sacramento’s B Street Theatre and a children’s theatre adaptation by Charles Busch at New York’s DR2 Theatre.

In 2022, Bunnicula: The Graphic Novel, adapted by Andrew Donkin with illustrations by Stephen Gilpin, was published.