Rabbit-Cadabra! (Bunnicula and Friends) [Hardcover]

James Howe (Author), Martin J. Schwartz (Illustrator), Alan Daniel (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Series: Bunnicula and Friends

The Amazing Karlovsky is coming to town, and he'll be performing his famous magic trick--pulling a rabbit out of a hat. All the Monroes are looking forward to his show, except Harold the dog, Chester the cat, and Howie the dachshund puppy. They think the magician's rabbit looks suspiciously like Bunnicula. So it's up to them--the show mustn't go on! Full color.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest Bunnicula picture book sustains that series' well-known comedy-of-errors combination of slapstick and intrigue. Once again the other animals in the Monroe household suspect impending danger from the pet rabbit, Bunnicula, whom they are convinced is a vampire. This time, thanks to Chester the cat (who maintains his impervious air of omniscience by making up what he doesn't know), Harold the dog (our narrator) and Howie the dachshund puppy believe that Bunnicula is in league with a visiting magician. When they learn that The Amazing Karlovsky plans to pull Bunnicula out of a hat during a show at the local school, they are sure that a horde of vampire bunnies will be loosed upon the audience. Can unspeakable horror be averted? Howe garnishes his story with winsome puns and indulgent irony before he unveils the requisite logical explanation. Daniel, who illustrated two Bunnicula middle readers, contributes watercolor, gouache and colored-pencil art; his composition, lighting and perspectives are theatrically exaggerated, especially in comparison with Leslie Morrill's rather staid pictures for Howe's 1991 Creepy-Crawly Birthday . The piece de resistance: a pull-out magic trick, clearly explained and easily executed. Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- The Monroe animals are back again in another zany adventure. Chester the cat and his dog friends, Howie and Harold, track Bunnicula to the amazing Karlovsky's magician's hat. Chester is convinced that Bunnicula is only one of many vampire rabbits to be pulled from the top hat, and the inventive trio tries to ward off their power with garlic-seasoned pizza. The fast-paced story is fun to read alone or with a group. The colorful single- and double-page watercolor spreads highlight the action and set the mood. The props and instructions for a magic trick are also included. A perfect introduction to Bunnicula and friends, the book is great for older children to read aloud to younger siblings. --Cassie Whetstone, Ridgeley Primary/Middle School, WV
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; First Edition edition (April 23, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688104029
• ISBN-13: 978-0688104023
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,826,746 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

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Howe does it again!, January 9, 2007

By 

L.R.M. (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rabbit-cadabra! (Bunnicula and Friends) (Hardcover)

This episode from the Bunnicula tales is perfect for children just beginning to read chapter books. My daughter is in first grade and loves it. It is a "ready-to-read" text which is more difficult to find in local stores unlike the regular Bunnicula novels.

The story involes a magician who comes to town and uses a rabbit that has the same markings as the Monroe's "vampire bunny." The cat, dog, and smaller Dacshund pets will save the day...

I difinitely recommend it for K-3rd grade readers.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Level 3 ready-to-read primer packs rich vocabulary around a zany story, May 8, 2006

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rabbit-cadabra! (Bunnicula and Friends) (Hardcover)

This Level 3 ready-to-read primer packs rich vocabulary around a zany story with longer chapters for kids at the Level 3 reading level. A magician is coming to town and Toby can't wait - but his dog and cat pals aren't so enthusiastic: they know the power of the wizard, who can even pull a rabbit out of a hat. What if that bunny is Bunnicula? And what if there's more than one in that hat? Hilarious mis-adventures evolve.