The Celery Stalks at Midnight (Bunnicula) [Paperback]

James Howe (Author), Leslie Morrill (Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: August 29, 2006 | Age Range: 8 and up | Series: Bunnicula

HARE TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

Bunnicula is missing! Chester is convinced all the world's vegetables are in danger of being drained of their life juices and turned into zombies. Soon he has Harold and Howie running around sticking toothpicks through hearts of lettuce and any other veggie in sight. Of course, Chester has been known to be wrong before...but you can never be too careful when there's a vampire bunny at large!

Editorial Reviews

Review

The vampire bunny Bunnicula has disappeared from his cage, and it’s up to Harold, Howie and Chester to track him down in this fun kids’ audio. Enjoy a zany mystery spiced by humor and elements of the supernatural. -- Midwest Book Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Publisher

CHESTER, the cat, Harold, the dog, Bunnicula, the vampire (?) rabbit, and Howie, the wirehaired dachshund puppy, return in this sequel to Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery and Howliday Inn to ask the question: Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of lettuce?

Chester has just finished retelling the tale of Bunnicula to Howie, who has just joined the Monroe family, when he discovers that Bunnicula is missing from his cage. Chester stays up all night worrying. What becomes of the vegetables Bunnicula attacks (for he is after all a vegetarian vampire)? Do they become vampire veggies serving their master's evil ways? Certain that the town is crawling with killer parsnips and homicidal heads of lettuce, Chester sets out with Harold and Howie and a box of toothpicks for spearing the little devils through the heart.

En route to finding Bunnicula, driving tiny stakes through whatever white vegetables lie in their paths and thereby saving the town of Centerville, the threesome have more than their share of adventures, including an encounter with an ill-tempered white cat named Snowball and an unexpected trip to the town dump.

Finally the strange actions of everyone in town, including Toby and Pete Monroe, convince Chester that he may be too late, that Bunnicula and his minion vegetables may have taken over the town. Chester and his merry band race to save what souls they can. But, of course, Chester has been known to be wrong before. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers; 0002- edition (August 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416928146
• ISBN-13: 978-1416928140
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #13,197 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Rabbits
  • #83 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Dogs

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.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It was awesome October 8, 1999

By Multi-Age class ([e-mail])

Format:Turtleback

The book was fun. We like the part when they go to the dump. We like the thoping part. the book was very funny. It made me happy inside. At a few parts it was scarey. The story was cool. you should read this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A clever romp through the mind of a zany cat and his two canine companions! January 26, 2007

By Erika Sorocco

Format:Paperback

Harold thought that all of Chester's fears and concerns regarding Bunnicula and the fact that he was a vampire ended long ago, when he was placed on a liquid diet of vegetable juice. But, when Bunnicula disappears from his cage, and Chester begins locating various pieces of vegetables that have been drained of their juices, and have turned completely white, he puts on his detective hat once more, and begins investigating the mysterious occurrences. Of course, this time there are some differences involving his investigation. One, he has lost all track of Bunnicula, and can't find him anywhere, no matter how hard he looks. And, even worse, the Monroes seem to be oblivious to the fact that the freaky-deaky rabbit has disappeared from his cage, and won't listen to Chester's cries of concern for the MIA bunny; and two, this time, Chester doesn't have just Harold as his sidekick in his quest for justice, he also has Howie, the Monroes new dachshund puppy who happens to have a howl that could wake the dead, and a wish to be Chester's very own son. While Howie could easily get on Chester's nerves, he's taking the little guys affections in stride, and using them in an attempt to get Howie to side with him and his thoughts on little Bunnicula, as opposed to following the lead of the disbelieving Harold, who wants nothing more than to think the best of the little guy. As Chester, Harold, and Howie begin their search, they find themselves in the throes of a town filled with white vegetables. White vegetables that they are staking with toothpicks, to prevent them from coming to life and following Bunnicula's vegetable-draining ways.... However, as the three siblings cavort and romp through various backyards and homes to locate Bunnicula, they encounter an array of animals who are interested in one thing: taking them down.

BUNNICULA was enjoyable, HOWLIDAY INN was riveting, but with THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT, James Howe has most definitely outdone himself. As with the two previous installments, Chester and Harold are as delightful as ever. Chester's quest for justice, and his wacky mind put together make him an irresistible character - if not slightly insane - and will leave readers laughing out loud; while the food-loving Harold's disbelief about Bunnicula is catching, making the reader question whether or not Bunnicula truly is, or isn't, a vampire. However, it is the introduction of Howie that makes THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT shine. Howie is the equivalent of Scooby-Doo's nephew, Scrappy-Doo. His aspirations to be just like Chester are off-beat, while his penchant for telling ridiculous jokes at all the wrong times are side-splitting funny. His howl, of course, gives his personality a slightly eerie side; but his love of peanut butter (something most dogs avoid) more than makes up for it. As with BUNNICULA, the fanged bunny doesn't make much of an appearance in THE CELERY STALKS AT MIDNIGHT; but the combining personalities of Harold, Chester, and Howie, along with the different animals they meet up with, from the sweater-wearing Max to the spitting-mad Snowball, certainly give the tale that certain...crunch to make it splendid. A clever romp through the mind of a zany cat and his two canine companions!

Erika Sorocco

Freelance Reviewer Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Buy it because of Bunnicula, keep it because of Garber September 30, 2002

By A Customer

Format:Audio Cassette|Amazon Verified Purchase

Bunnicula is one of those great series of books that treats kids intelligently and therefore is fun for kids-at-heart adults too.

I love Victor Garber's interpretation of each character's voice. Quite versatile at changing up intonations and pitch, he seemlessly moves between teenage boys, goofy Howie and the more prim and proper Chester. I cracked up everytime Garber said 'Uncle HAHrold' in Howie's voice. VG also delivers the straight narrative parts in a nice rhythm that reflects the author's amusing sequences of puns with colorful imagery.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book! February 5, 2001

By [e-mail]

Format:Paperback

I loved the book and if your thinking about buying it go for it.However if you haven't read Bunnicula and Howliday Inn your really missing out on some great books and you should get those too!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredibly Clever March 4, 1999

By "dragonlady"

Format:Paperback

This book is a must for every children's library. It is a wonderfully clever story told from the point of view of everyday house pets. Vampirish bunnnies, zombie-like vegetables, and toothpick trouble join together to make a fantastic, fun tale.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Bunnicula the vampire bunny is on the loose. January 30, 2003

A Kid's Review

Format:Paperback

Bunnicula is a vampire bunny and he is on the loose. The Monroes, the family who owns Bunnicula, really don't have a clue about his escape. Bunnicula's pals Harold, Chester, and Howie are there to track him down in order to stop disaster. Chester has a theory that if Bunnicula bites the vegetables in everyone's garden they will turn into vampire vegetables and then attack the town. The message to the readers relays that ones mind can jump to many conclusions from the simple to the bazaar. Chester's idea of what may happen is defiantly leaning towards the bazaar. I like Celery Stalks at Midnight because the author told the story using animals which creates a hilarious picture in my mind.I recommend this book to all ages because of the animals and the mysterious happenings.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Bunnicula Book! November 7, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This is the best Bunnicula book written. I have read the whole series and this is the best!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great! November 2, 2008

By C. Hearn

Format:Paperback

One of my favorites... the kids love the part where Chester spears the veggies with a toothpick.