James Howe (1) (1946–)

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC in exchange for review through Edelweiss.)

I was a huge bookworm as a kid (still am!), and - along with Nancy Drew, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Encyclopedia Brown - Bunnicula was one of my favorite series. So I was stoked when I discovered the graphic novel adaptation on Edelweiss.

BUNNICULA: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL follows the plot of the inaugural book, BUNNICULA: A RABBIT-TALE OF MYSTERY: while attending a screening of the movie DRACULA, a family finds an show more abandoned rabbit in one of the theater seats. The Monroes - mom and dad and their sons Pete and Toby - bring the little ball of fluff home and christen him Bunnicula, after the circumstances of his (very strange and spooky) discovery. Shortly after Bunnicula's adoption, weird things start happening in the Monroe household - most glaringly, some of the family's vegetables go white overnight.

The cat of the house, Chester, becomes convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire who will soon lead to the family's destruction. His attempts to unmask (then murder!) Bunnicula rubs his canine friend Harold the wrong way, and he soon takes Bunnicula's side.

Though it's been ages since I've read the books, the graphic novel seems to be a pretty faithful retelling of the story; a fun way of revisiting an old favorite, but in a new medium. It's strange; it didn't feel like a whole lot happened, plot-wise, for an 128-page comic book (and one that's heavy on narration, at that); and yet the story is fun, engaging, and moves at a pretty steady clip.

It's hard to judge the artwork, since the ARC isn't full-color, but I enjoyed the illustrations and thought they suited the overall vibe of the story quite well. My only complaint: Chester's face has this weird, humanoid quality that I found really disconcerting in an Uncanny Valley way. show less

When the Monroe family brings home a new rabbit as a pet, Chester the cat is convinced the little fellow is a vampire. Harold the dog is brought into Chester's conspiracy and begins to wonder what to make of all the changes in the house.

Bunnicula is one of those classics that I somehow missed out on as a kid, so I decided to right that wrong now. Despite being a few decades old, the book held up pretty well. Although technically a horror book, this title really isn't scary, which is nice for show more those of us who don't like to be frightened out of our wits. (However, for kids who really do enjoy spooky stories, they might be slightly disappointed to find out this book is not that.) Instead, the book is little mysterious with lots of humorous parts.

Telling the story from the point of view of the family's dog was delightful. Anyone who has a pet (or has spent a bit of time around those who do) will get a kick out of Chester's and Harold's doings. There was one particular passage about Chester needing 20 minutes to adjust himself comfortably in a chair that had me chuckling aloud, as that is a sight I often witness with my cats.

The simple sketches aren't really necessary, although they do add a little something extra to the story. For instance, the image of Chester in his mouse sweater was even funnier than just reading about it. In sum, this book is perfect for a light and funny read that goes quickly. I can definitely seeing it appealing to both kids and adults who are looking for a good laugh. show less

Back in the day, Bunnicula was THE book to read in elementary school. The class clambered to the front of the classroom to sit in our little circle and have story time. This book turned us all into little book loving zombies and we were desperate for more. Unfortunately, our school and teachers were only ever able to get the first book, but that didn't deter us. We all had it memorized by the end of the day.

Fast forward to 2020. I see this book in a local used bookstore and I decide, "Hey, show more why not read it again and see if it holds up?" I can see this book for what it is - an absolute delightful middle grade novel that introduces fun horror to youthful eyes. As an adult, it didn't hold up for me but I still have a special place in my heart for it. Who doesn't love Bunnicula? Seriously.

Vampire Bunnies. It's such a unique idea and I LOVE it. This book sits with Goosebumps on my happy, little, Halloween-loving shelf. This bunny goes and drains vegetables, because obviously it was owned by Dracula! It's a fun concept and super silly! It's definitely a book I would recommend for parents and educators. Get your little readers into a spooky, Halloween spirit with this little gem!

As an adult, it feels like a funny SNL skit. It's not scary to us because we know it's fiction but to little kids it's a potential nightmare (in a good way, it's not THAT scary). The anticipation as a child was not there as an adult, but I can still appreciate how wonderfully written this book is. It's short and sweet but packed full of story!

Also, surprise ending! I forgot how this book ended so I was pleasantly surprised!

The only negative I had with this book was some of the adult references: classic books, taxes, etc. Kids might not understand these terms, but if they have a great adult reader helping them along, it might be a good educational opportunity, I guess.

Overall, this book is a childhood fave of mine that I would still highly recommend! It's so nostalgic for me and I truly miss the whimsical nature of reading these books!

Four out of five stars. show less

When Big Bob moves in next door, Little Bob isn't sure that this is a good thing. Other than their name, the two boys seems to have nothing in common. Big Bob likes trucks and playing sports, whereas Little Bob likes dolls, reading, and occasionally wearing girls' clothing. But although they have trouble finding a workable play dynamic at first, friendship does develop, especially when a new girl moves into the neighborhood and tells Little Bob that boys aren't meant to be playing with show more dolls.

Apparently inspired by author James Howe's own boyhood love of dolls - his dedication to his parents includes a youthful photograph of himself cradling a doll - Big Bob, Little Bob explores gender fluidity in younger children, offering a positive message of acceptance. Some boys play with dolls, and prefer reading to playing ball, just as some girls - like Blossom, in the story - prefer trucks to dolls. In the end, all three children find a way to play together, emphasizing that whatever their differences, all children enjoy imaginative games. The artwork, created digitally by Laura Ellen Anderson, is colorful and appealing, adding to the fun of the story. Recommended to anyone looking for stories featuring children who enjoy activities less common for their gender, and how children with different interests might become friends. show less