The Celery Stalks At Midnight

Bunnicula #3

by James Howe, Leslie H. Morrill (Illustrator)

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.

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Fantasy, Humor, Mystery, Middle Grade, Animals

81 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

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.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Sean Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chester, unlike Bunnicula, is a menace to society. And thank goodness for that, because he makes life joyful.

And who doesn't love that big puppy energy Howie gives off?

[Kellie O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/ 4 ✨ rating from me!!

" Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of artichokes?"

Fun and festive read for kids of all ages! I found this book for.25¢ at the library and it was worth it!
Cute and innocent for Spooky Season! 👻🐇 Just beware of bunnies on Halloween and guard your veggies!!! Told from the POV of the animals!! Loved it 😁

Happy Spooky Season! 👻🍂🍃🍁🎃🐇👻

Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨

[✨Bean's Books✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

So cute...
Harold and Chester are back in this all out war against vampiric vegetables! When Bunnicula gets loose everyone is only a bite mark away from falling victim to his undead vegetable minions.
These books are so cute. Love them. Highly recommend.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the third installment of books written by intrepid and long-suffering dog Harold X about his adventures living with his family and his fellow animals Chester the neurotic cat and Bunnicula the vampire rabbit, we find further upheaval in their lives. For one thing, they have a new dog, Howie the dachshund puppy, who calls Harold "uncle" and Chester "pop." Then you have the strange behavior of the family one sunny day, followed by the disappearance of Bunnicula! Could the little bunny have made the family, and perhaps the entire town his slaves? Are the white veggies found in the neighbor's yard Bunnicula's minion onions? Armed with Chester's knowledge of horror movies and some toothpick stakes, the dogs and cat hit the road to take care of business!

[Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly it should get five stars for puns alone

[Ben A · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third entry in the Bunnicula series is fast paced and sees Chester trying to convince Harold and new puppy Howie that something sinister may be happening with those vegetables that Bunnicula has drained juice from and so begins the incredibly well done farce.

[Dev · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just don't think this book has the spooky atmosphere that the other books in the series do. I mean the first one everyone is always sneaking around in the middle of the night, the second one they're in an unfamiliar place and it's always storming, and the fourth one they are lost in the woods and it's also storming again, but this one they just wander around and catch a ride in a garbage truck and then end up at a school fair. Obviously in the other books the spooky setting always ends up having a logical or silly explanation, but in this one it seems like there wasn't really even an effort made. It was still a fun short read and I absolutely love Chester, but it just wasn't as good as the others that I've reread lately. And I'm not sure how I feel about Howie yet either. I'm not against the horrible puns in theory, but what else is he really contributing.

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another '80s classic. I think this was one that had the opening where the protagonists are finding drained vegetables in gardens and various places and they're sticking cocktail sticks in them. So memorable. I didn't like this one as much as HOWLIDAY INN, but it was certainly up there with BUNNICULA!

NB. The title also taught me what a pun was while I was still a kid - not an easy feat - but genius!

[Elyse · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far my least-liked Bunnicula novel. I don't even remember much about it! Very unmemorable. Will continue on with the series.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

They're too cute! I can't stop reading about Harold, Chester, Howie and Bunnicula.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harold the Labrador just wants to sleep and eat an occasional Hostess cupcake.
Chester the cat does not trust Bunnicula....convinced
...he's a dangerous vampire rabbit!
Howie the puppy dachshund is the joker.
He tells Chester: "Take the bunny and run!"
Later he smirks.... "Just kitten."
Totally enjoyed the leaps and bounds of
Harold, Howie and Chester!
Finally finished 1 book during Dewey's Read-a-Thon 2017!
#TeamANZ

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tbis was always one of my favorite books growing up and it does hold up as an adult. The amount of cackling I do at these dogs’ shenanigans is truly unhealthy and unhinged.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

No matter how you slice it, the fact of the matter is that I am a fan of both zombie vegetables AND mystery solving animals. I also quite like old school book covers and vampiric rabbits. Of course, I really took to The Celery Stalks At Midnight by James Howe, third in the Bunnicula series, gobbling it up during the April 2012 Dewey Readathon in an hour or so.
Read the rest of my review here

[Joshua Gross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I owned this one as a kid, so I remember reading this one more often than the others. However, it's clear why Howliday Inn was my favorite. This one was kind of all over the place, and really just focused on slapstick and puns. Howie was as unnecessary to the series as Scrappy Doo was to Scooby-Doo, but I was glad Chester expanded on something that had been bothering me since the first book: Who cares if Bunnicula sucks the juices out of vegetables? Where's the harm in that? So I'm glad Chester came up with something to do with that.

[Anelis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I find that reading these books makes me overly affectionate towards my cat

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series. These books are hilarious! 4 stars.

[Bookewyfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the Bunnicula series was okay, but this one is absolutely hilarious. Chester the bossy house cat is at it again, getting himself and Harold into trouble with Howie and Snowball the cat…he is convinced that the vegetables Bunnicula bites, don’t stay innocent vegetables ready to be grilled. He has now begun to stab any ‘white’ vegetables he finds, with toothpicks to try and stop the evil from spreading. Hilarious!!!

[Andrea Frazee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up; audiobook

[brahski microsoft · Rating 5 out of 5]

now THIS is an adventure!!!!

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

16 October 2004

I love Chester. When I read these books, Chester gets my Wallace Shawn voice. Harold just gets my mostly normal voice.

***

10 December 2023

I've spent the past hour discovering that none of the Howe books had my Date Read. While in general it's annoying to find data has disappeared, it's more than that to me in this particular instance. Some of the happiest memories I have are taking the Offspring to the library or a bookstore, and reading aloud to them at night. Being able to look back and see when I've read this before is part of the pleasure in reading, because it takes me back to a specific time. All those dates gone: I suppose this is a hint of what it must feel like to realize you're losing your memories.

[Courtney Umlauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun addition to the Bunnicula series, in which Chester the cat is again convinced that the family pet bunny is really a rabid vampire, bent on sucking the juice out of all the vegetables in the house, and soon the neighborhood! Finding pale, juiceless veggies in their backyard doesn't help Harold's case, who as the voice of reason firmly stands by Bunnicula as an innocent fury friend. Just when they think they've got things figured out, a seed of doubt is sown in the hearts of Chester and Harold.

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[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just think these books are so darn adorable. This third book sees the now trio of Monroe pets on the hunt to save the suburbs. Bunnicula is missing from his cage and the mysterious white vegetables have been cropping up. Chester convinces Harold and Howie the only way to prevent the vegetables from becoming the vampire's minions is to stake them with toothpicks...so they have to run around the neighborhood to save everyone and keep an eye out for the missing Bunnicula.

Very goofy but still fun! I think these might be fun ones to read aloud with the family due to the cast of characters and their misadventures. I'm pretty sure this was the last one I read as a kid so the rest of the series will be completely fresh for me. :) Recommended for young readers for sure.

[James Maxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 8-year-old said she liked this book best in the series so far. The protagonists are staying true to character, the humor (and silliness) still intact, and mystery ever present. The story itself advanced more off the first book while adding the new [young] dog acquired from the second. Bunnicula is back (who was missing in the 2nd book).

[Belinda_G__ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m really mad it landed on a cliff hanger. I’m really happy though, Harold is really brave. I know any other dog would probably never even think about saving there owner. I think that’s really sweet. And I love that it’s called the “Curse of the Vampires” and the chapter is called Curse of the vampires I think it’s really funny! 😂

[Ericka Clou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has one of the best titles in children's literature. The actual vampire bunny is back in this one which is refreshing, along with a new puppy character from book 2. Not quite as great as the first Bunnicula book but a decent sequel.

[Sarah H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember loving these books as a kid so I jumped at the chance to listen to them and revisit. Absolutely as fun as I remembered and probably funnier as an adult (especially if you’re a pet person). Plus the audiobook is narrated by Victor Garber!

[Jenna D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, funny stuff! Especially the hors d'oeuvre jokes and the trip in the bed of the pickup truck. Class Bunnicula fun and nutty Chester ideas. Little clues are scattered here and there as to what is actually going on, and kids will likely be guessing until the very end. So good.

[Summertime Readaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this as a read aloud and my 8yo and I both found it to be hysterical!

She gave a 5 and I gave 3.5 so we split the difference and rated it a 4.

It is book 3 in the Bunnicula series and we are quite enjoying the ride.

[Michael Michaud]

Reads best with peanut butter.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not my favorite of the Bunnicula books, but it has one of the best titles. Read with Bunnicula as a re-read from my childhood.