Howliday Inn (Bunnicula) [Library Binding]

James Howe (Author), Lynn M. Munsinger (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1983 | Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Bunnicula

Harold and Chester could hardly believe it. The Monroe family was going on vacation without them! Bunnicula, the family rabbit, would be boarded with a neighbor. But they, the family's loyal dog and cat, were to stay with strangers at the foreboding Chateau Bow-Wow...

No sooner had Harold and Chester settled into their bungalows than Louise, a French poodle involved in a messy love triangle, disappeared. Chester believed the six other guests were capable of anything -- even murder. Would you trust a pair of dachshunds who howled at the moon and were rumored to be part werewolf? Or crazy Lyle, a cat convinced he was a secret agent?

All Harold and Chester knew was that in spite of themselves they had entered the crime detection business and neither foul play nor foul weather would stop them from finding out whodunit!

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The story, with wonderfully witty dialogue and irresistible characters, is a treat for all ages."

-- Publishers Weekly --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

Harold and Chester could hardly believe it. The Monroe family was going on vacation without them. Bunnicula, the family rabbit, would be boarded with a neighbor. But they, the family's loyal dog and cat, were to be sent away with strangers; they were to spend a week at Chateau Bow-Wow.

Chateau Bow-Wow, observed Chester, soon after they arrived, could more properly be called Howliday Inn. Though what was howling, neither of them knew. Chester had his suspicions however; only a werewolf could make that chilling sound. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Library Binding
• Publisher: Avon Books (October 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881036595
• ISBN-13: 978-0881036596
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,024,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book Read With a Wonderful Voice, June 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Howliday Inn (Bunnicula) (Audio Cassette)

Howliday Inn is written for children but is enjoyable for any age group with its humor and clever plotline. The main characters, a dog and a cat named Harold and Chester respectively, are a lot of fun to relate to and sympathize with, and a colorful group of minor characters complements them perfectly. The mystery is suspenseful and it is fun to try to guess the outcome. Hearing Victor Garber, a very talented actor with an amazing voice, reading makes the book an even better experience. He has a voice for each character, and they are not overdone, they are subtle and exactly right. Overall it is a fun and relaxing way to spend time. I highly recommend it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Animal Mystery for Middle Readers, February 25, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Howliday Inn (Bunnicula) (Paperback)

Pete and Toby Monroe, along with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, are going on vacation, and, thanks for Harold's tendency to get carsick, they have decide to leave both him, and Chester at Chateau Bow-Wow, a supposed four-star hotel for dogs and cats. It seems like a boring place to Harold and Chester, until the first night, when they are trying to get some sleep, and they hear a horrendous howling, causing Chester to rename Chateau Bow-Wow, Howliday Inn. Chester becomes convinced almost instantly that there are werewolves among them at the hotel, and begins investigating. But pretty soon Harold and Chester have even more to investigate, because animals begin disappearing, and there are rumors of murder spreading around. Now it's up to Chester and Harold to solve the case, before their check-out time from Howliday Inn comes sooner than expected.

After reading THE MISFITS by James Howe, I thought that I'd check out another one of his novels, which led to my purchase of HOWLIDAY INN. This is one of the best books that I have ever read for children and pre-teens. The characters are intelligent and witty, and speak in such a simple way that children of all ages will be able to understand what is going on in the plot. Not only that, readers will be able to help Chester and Harold solve the mystery, while also getting a good laugh out of the quirky personalities of the other boarders at Chateau Bow-Wow. A must have book for all kids ages 6-13, as HOWLIDAY INN is something that even the most reluctant reader will be unable to put down.

Erika Sorocco

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Loved It!, May 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Howliday Inn (Bunnicula) (Paperback)

I read this book quite a few years ago. I loved it so much, I read it over and over. This is a book that I have read to the children I babysat for, and I will also read it to my own children. It's wonderful and I will never forget it.