Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery

• Genre: Fiction; Children’s, mystery
• Originally Published: 1979
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 700L; Grades 3-6
• Structure/Length: 17 chapters; approximately 128 pages; approximately 2 hours, 23 minutes on audiobook
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel is narrated by Harold, a dog, and follows the Monroe family’s pet tabby cat, Chester, who becomes suspicious of the new bunny in the household, Bunnicula. Chester believes Bunnicula to be a vampire rabbit that drains vegetables of their juice. As Chester investigates, he enlists the help of Harold to uncover the truth behind Bunnicula’s mysterious behavior. The central conflict revolves around Chester’s belief in Bunnicula’s supernatural abilities and his determination to protect the Monroe family from what he perceives as a threat.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of mystery; themes of supernatural elements

James Howe and Deborah Howe, Authors

• Bio: James Howe (born 1946) and Deborah Howe (born 1946, deceased 1978); American husband-and-wife writing team; known for their collaborations on children’s books; Bunnicula is one of their most famous works and has become a beloved classic in children’s literature; their collaboration on the book began when Deborah had the idea of a vampire bunny, and James wrote the story in response; the novel’s humor and mystery elements have captured the imaginations of young readers for decades
• Other Works: James Howe has written several other children’s and young adult books, including more books in the “Bunnicula and Friends" series; Deborah Howe is best known for her work on Bunnicula and passed away before the book’s publication.

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Friendship
• Overcoming Fear
• The Combining of Mystery and Comedy

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the social and historical contexts surrounding Dracula that incite Harold’s conflict.
• Study paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Friendship, Overcoming Fear, and The Combining of Mystery and Comedy.
• Plan, design, and construct visual media to represent the Monroes’ new pet based on text details.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot and character details to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding viewpoint, narration, and other topics.