Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com

Mr. Monroe--with a bit of help from Harold, the book-writing dog--has gotten it into his head that an overnight camping trip is just the type of adventure the family needs. So the Monroes pack up and head out into the woods, bringing along their faithful pets (excepting the vampire bunny, Bunnicula, who's missed out on yet another adventure by being boarded with friends).

Both Harold and the excitable pup, Howie, look forward to the fun of the woods and cozy fireside time with the family (Harold especially because of the promise of s'mores). But the ever-reluctant Chester the cat swears that, with the approach of Saint George's Day, all that awaits their family is doom at the hands of evil spirits lurking behind the trees.

It's easy for Harold to dismiss Chester's notions until the Monroes run across two strange men and their brain-dead bulldog, Dawg. When Dawg leads the pets away from the humans only to get them lost in the woods, Harold and Chester come up with a plan to sneak away and save their family. However, they have to put Dawg to sleep with a story first, and Chester's chosen tale of Bunnicula's origins makes for one creepy bedtime lullaby.

Remembering this book from when I originally read it as a child, this one still sticks in my mind as the most boring of the BUNNICULA series. The story-within-a-story is rather distracting, and lacks that bit of credibility that makes the rest of the books so appealing.

Still, if you like a good parody of the old monster movie origin stories, this would be the book to go to. ( )

Great read-aloud! ( )

http://hollybooknotes.blogspot.com/20... ( )

Read this book in fifth grade and frmo what I remember it was really good. ( )

Lexile: 680
Reading Recovery: 22
DRA: 38
Fountas Pinnel Guided Reading: P