"Bunnicula" by Deborah and James Howe

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Read: 4/18/09

3/5 stars

Yes, I am into vampire literature, which is why I would even read about a vampire bunny. Seriously, though, I saw a tv version of Bunnicula when I was much younger, and the story caught my imagination even then. I thought it cute that a bunny would drain the juices from vegetables, leaving them stark white, yet not do anything to harm any other creature in the household. Perfect combination of a sinister-ness of a vampire and the cuteness of a bunny.

What I also remember from that version is that the judgment whether Bunnicula was really a vampire was left hanging. I know the hanging ending is typical, but I thought it pretty cool. After all, how can one reconcile fangs and glowing eyes with a pristine and harmless ball of fur?

Of course, that question is more or less answered in the book. Reading this book was mostly an exercise in curiosity. (Come to think of it, a lot of my reading is just that). Anyway, I wanted to know if the tv version was faithful to the book. Also, it was a pretty thin book and I figured I better get at least one more book in for the 24hour reading challenge last April 18.

Was the book charming? It was cute enough. But I guess middle-readers aren't really for me anymore. I wanted Bunnicula to show more of himself, be it the cute or sinister side. Alas, most of what he did in the book was sleep. The dog and the cat characters are interesting, but not enough to capture and hold the imagination. Bunnicula might have done so, but I already told you what he did.

Regardless, I would give this book to my son, if he were old enough to read it. Like Bunnicula, it's harmless and cute.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I have never read Bunnicula but I used to love a cartoon series called Duckular, the story of a veratarian vampire duck, it was very funny, I wonder what ever happened to that?
April 30, 2009 at 7:13 PM
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