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Bunnicula #4
Nighty-Nightmare
An overnight camping trip! Howie, the Monroe's faithful dog, is not excited, and Chester the cat is worried. The woods, Chester informs Harold, are not only full of cockleburs and ticks, but of spirits - evil spirits who prey on the innocent. Harold is not taking Chester seriously. But when two strange men and their even stranger dog set up camp next to the Monroes, things begin to happen that make even Harold wonder. Could Chester be right?
121 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 1987
83 people are currently reading
1435 people want to read
About the author
James Howe
218 books460 followersLibrarian 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
September 13, 2018
fulfilling my vow to read all the sequels i never knew existed to books i loved when i was little.
and *yes* i know i still haven't reviewed my reread of Bunnicula from october because i am suck.
i could have sworn i'd read this when i was little, but after checking the pub date and noting the four-year gap between this and the previous book - The Celery Stalks at Midnight, i think i would have juuuuust aged out of it.
there were no giddy shudders of recognition while i was reading it, so whether i never read it or i did and my brain reabsorbed the experience, it was all new to me!!!
who knows how much i would have liked it if (or WHEN) i'd read it as a miniature karen? now, reading it as a dusty old maid, i think it’s fine. there's not much to review; it's a scant 118 pages, many of which are full-page illustrations and the plot is pretty spare, even for a middle-grade book.
harold, chester and howie go camping with the monroes, and in the great outdoors, our animal pals still do what they do: harold just wants to eat s’mores, chester lets his imagination run wild, howie bounds around bugging chester, and bunnicula…well, bunnicula isn’t even IN this one. which i'm coming to understand is the norm, at least as far as the first four books go:
Bunnicula - bunnicula is totally in this one.
Howliday Inn - i do not think he is in this one, or if he is, it is only at the v. beginning or v. end. this is set in a kennel where harold and chester are staying while the monroes are away (man, those monroes sure go away a lot…) since there’s no such thing as a kennel for bunnies (vampiric or otherwise), i think bunnicula’s just staying with a friend of toby’s or something. this is my memory of a book i read more than twenty years ago.
The Celery Stalks at Midnight - i think bunnicula is only at the very end of this one. the whole storyline revolves around chester freaking out because bunnicula isn’t in his hutch and he assumes the worst - that bunnicula is out on the prowl making an army of vampire vegetables. i believe this is the one where chester finds a white carrot on the floor in front of the fridge and becomes quite fluffy-tailed over this proof of vampire shenanigans until it is revealed that *SPOILER ALERT* it’s just a parsnip. oh, chester! it is definitely the one where chester ruins a cake.
which brings us to Nighty-Nightmare. bunnicula appears twice, although only anecdotally - once, in a campfire origin story chester improvises about him - which chester seems to 100% believe by the end of it because he is so susceptible to stories, he even believes the ones he makes up himself. and secondly, at the very end of the book, when pete calls a friend and learns that while they have all been gone on vacation, bunnicula has been knocking tails with a girl rabbit as part of a merit badge project (pete's, not bunnicula's, silly!) and now there are going to be baby vampire bunnies in the near future! and also a merit badge for pete for "rabbit raising," which is code for "animal pimpery."
as far as the non-bunnicula parts go - while searching for a place to pitch their tents, the monroes and attendant pets meet two rough-looking brothers named bud and spud and their bulldog dawg. the animals go off on a woodsy tour with dawg, get turned around and have to spend the night in the woods, chester spooks everyone (but mostly himself) with his characteristic paranoia while howie bombards them all with puns. so many puns. chester begins to suspect dawg is getting them lost on purpose and that the monroes, left behind with bud and spud, are in danger from the men and also from spirits because why not worry about everything at once? there’s rain and a full moon and it’s nearing midnight on saint george’s day and chester’s psyching himself out with his own lapine-based horror stories and there’s a creepy abandoned house and ZERO S’MORES FOR HAROLD and dawg says some mildly ominous things that chester blows out of proportion and they find the monroe's campsite but no monroes and is that blood??
it’s a long night, but there’s not much actual conflict. far from tensions escalating to a fever pitch, at the height of the drama, they all… fall asleep and everything is resolved bright and early the next day, and the monroes aren't even all that concerned that (nearly) all their pets have been out in the unfamiliar woods in the rain all night. and then toby feeds harold some microwave s'mores which is a no-no on both culinary and pet-owning grounds.
it's a mere wisp of a story. the alternate working title of this book was probably the night some pets experienced mild discomfort in the woods but it all worked out okay in the end. or that time the monroes revealed themselves to be elitist snobs. or seriously, how is harold still even alive with all the crap toby feeds him?
will Return to Howliday Inn be better? will bunnicula even be in it? are the monroes seriously going on vacation again? let's find out!
**********************************************
i only have one day to read this to make my monthly goal. CAN I DO IT???
(psst - i did it!)
come to my blog!
and *yes* i know i still haven't reviewed my reread of Bunnicula from october because i am suck.
i could have sworn i'd read this when i was little, but after checking the pub date and noting the four-year gap between this and the previous book - The Celery Stalks at Midnight, i think i would have juuuuust aged out of it.
there were no giddy shudders of recognition while i was reading it, so whether i never read it or i did and my brain reabsorbed the experience, it was all new to me!!!
who knows how much i would have liked it if (or WHEN) i'd read it as a miniature karen? now, reading it as a dusty old maid, i think it’s fine. there's not much to review; it's a scant 118 pages, many of which are full-page illustrations and the plot is pretty spare, even for a middle-grade book.
harold, chester and howie go camping with the monroes, and in the great outdoors, our animal pals still do what they do: harold just wants to eat s’mores, chester lets his imagination run wild, howie bounds around bugging chester, and bunnicula…well, bunnicula isn’t even IN this one. which i'm coming to understand is the norm, at least as far as the first four books go:
Bunnicula - bunnicula is totally in this one.
Howliday Inn - i do not think he is in this one, or if he is, it is only at the v. beginning or v. end. this is set in a kennel where harold and chester are staying while the monroes are away (man, those monroes sure go away a lot…) since there’s no such thing as a kennel for bunnies (vampiric or otherwise), i think bunnicula’s just staying with a friend of toby’s or something. this is my memory of a book i read more than twenty years ago.
The Celery Stalks at Midnight - i think bunnicula is only at the very end of this one. the whole storyline revolves around chester freaking out because bunnicula isn’t in his hutch and he assumes the worst - that bunnicula is out on the prowl making an army of vampire vegetables. i believe this is the one where chester finds a white carrot on the floor in front of the fridge and becomes quite fluffy-tailed over this proof of vampire shenanigans until it is revealed that *SPOILER ALERT* it’s just a parsnip. oh, chester! it is definitely the one where chester ruins a cake.
which brings us to Nighty-Nightmare. bunnicula appears twice, although only anecdotally - once, in a campfire origin story chester improvises about him - which chester seems to 100% believe by the end of it because he is so susceptible to stories, he even believes the ones he makes up himself. and secondly, at the very end of the book, when pete calls a friend and learns that while they have all been gone on vacation, bunnicula has been knocking tails with a girl rabbit as part of a merit badge project (pete's, not bunnicula's, silly!) and now there are going to be baby vampire bunnies in the near future! and also a merit badge for pete for "rabbit raising," which is code for "animal pimpery."
as far as the non-bunnicula parts go - while searching for a place to pitch their tents, the monroes and attendant pets meet two rough-looking brothers named bud and spud and their bulldog dawg. the animals go off on a woodsy tour with dawg, get turned around and have to spend the night in the woods, chester spooks everyone (but mostly himself) with his characteristic paranoia while howie bombards them all with puns. so many puns. chester begins to suspect dawg is getting them lost on purpose and that the monroes, left behind with bud and spud, are in danger from the men and also from spirits because why not worry about everything at once? there’s rain and a full moon and it’s nearing midnight on saint george’s day and chester’s psyching himself out with his own lapine-based horror stories and there’s a creepy abandoned house and ZERO S’MORES FOR HAROLD and dawg says some mildly ominous things that chester blows out of proportion and they find the monroe's campsite but no monroes and is that blood??
it’s a long night, but there’s not much actual conflict. far from tensions escalating to a fever pitch, at the height of the drama, they all… fall asleep and everything is resolved bright and early the next day, and the monroes aren't even all that concerned that (nearly) all their pets have been out in the unfamiliar woods in the rain all night. and then toby feeds harold some microwave s'mores which is a no-no on both culinary and pet-owning grounds.
it's a mere wisp of a story. the alternate working title of this book was probably the night some pets experienced mild discomfort in the woods but it all worked out okay in the end. or that time the monroes revealed themselves to be elitist snobs. or seriously, how is harold still even alive with all the crap toby feeds him?
will Return to Howliday Inn be better? will bunnicula even be in it? are the monroes seriously going on vacation again? let's find out!
**********************************************
i only have one day to read this to make my monthly goal. CAN I DO IT???
(psst - i did it!)
come to my blog!
June 22, 2020
Bud, Spud, and Dawg…Hans and Fritz…and more Howie puns than you can throw a stick at (get it?).
Another delightful entry in the Bunnicula series.
Life was never so simple as it is in these books, but I sure wish it was—especially now.
Another delightful entry in the Bunnicula series.
Life was never so simple as it is in these books, but I sure wish it was—especially now.
November 1, 2025
A satisfyingly spooky kids tale featuring Harold, Chester, and Howie from Bunnicula.
July 8, 2019
Harold, Chester and Howie are back in this new adventure. The Monroe's go camping but when the three animals get lost with their new acquaintance, Dawg, things really take a walk on the wild side.
This one is a bit outlandish but hey aren't they all? And it is still cute as hell. It kind of reminds me of Homeward Bound with a sinister twist but still perfect for the little ones to read. I definitely recommend this as a part of the series.
This one is a bit outlandish but hey aren't they all? And it is still cute as hell. It kind of reminds me of Homeward Bound with a sinister twist but still perfect for the little ones to read. I definitely recommend this as a part of the series.
September 8, 2016
Well, this was a quick but at times kind of creepy ish read. It was okay.
February 18, 2017
Ah! Good ol' Harold X. and his continuing chronicles of life with neurotic Chester, punny Howie, and Bunnicula, the possible vampire rabbit! This one features Chester's greatest moment of storytelling ever, as the pets are lost in the woods all night, and Chester regales them with a terrifying tale of mad science, vampirism, and dirty Hans at the dinner table! (Okay, the last one was Howie's joke, but it's my favorite!)
March 7, 2019
Such a fun read. I’ve enjoyed all of Chester’s wild stories so far! I rate “Nighty-Nightmare” 4 stars!
November 13, 2012
Reviewed by Allison Fraclose for TeensReadToo.com
Mr. Monroe--with a bit of help from Harold, the book-writing dog--has gotten it into his head that an overnight camping trip is just the type of adventure the family needs. So the Monroes pack up and head out into the woods, bringing along their faithful pets (excepting the vampire bunny, Bunnicula, who's missed out on yet another adventure by being boarded with friends).
Both Harold and the excitable pup, Howie, look forward to the fun of the woods and cozy fireside time with the family (Harold especially because of the promise of s'mores). But the ever-reluctant Chester the cat swears that, with the approach of Saint George's Day, all that awaits their family is doom at the hands of evil spirits lurking behind the trees.
It's easy for Harold to dismiss Chester's notions until the Monroes run across two strange men and their brain-dead bulldog, Dawg. When Dawg leads the pets away from the humans only to get them lost in the woods, Harold and Chester come up with a plan to sneak away and save their family. However, they have to put Dawg to sleep with a story first, and Chester's chosen tale of Bunnicula's origins makes for one creepy bedtime lullaby.
Remembering this book from when I originally read it as a child, this one still sticks in my mind as the most boring of the BUNNICULA series. The story-within-a-story is rather distracting, and lacks that bit of credibility that makes the rest of the books so appealing.
Still, if you like a good parody of the old monster movie origin stories, this would be the book to go to.
Mr. Monroe--with a bit of help from Harold, the book-writing dog--has gotten it into his head that an overnight camping trip is just the type of adventure the family needs. So the Monroes pack up and head out into the woods, bringing along their faithful pets (excepting the vampire bunny, Bunnicula, who's missed out on yet another adventure by being boarded with friends).
Both Harold and the excitable pup, Howie, look forward to the fun of the woods and cozy fireside time with the family (Harold especially because of the promise of s'mores). But the ever-reluctant Chester the cat swears that, with the approach of Saint George's Day, all that awaits their family is doom at the hands of evil spirits lurking behind the trees.
It's easy for Harold to dismiss Chester's notions until the Monroes run across two strange men and their brain-dead bulldog, Dawg. When Dawg leads the pets away from the humans only to get them lost in the woods, Harold and Chester come up with a plan to sneak away and save their family. However, they have to put Dawg to sleep with a story first, and Chester's chosen tale of Bunnicula's origins makes for one creepy bedtime lullaby.
Remembering this book from when I originally read it as a child, this one still sticks in my mind as the most boring of the BUNNICULA series. The story-within-a-story is rather distracting, and lacks that bit of credibility that makes the rest of the books so appealing.
Still, if you like a good parody of the old monster movie origin stories, this would be the book to go to.
June 4, 2019
Loved this! The gang getting lost in the woods was fun and also the story of how Bunnicula came to be was great too. And to find out that Bunnicula now has a baby that looks just like him is really cute. Very excited for the next book. Final verdict: short, sweet, fluffy and 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2019
Definitely a step up after what I considered a bit of a drag from book 3. Bunnicula doesn't make an actual appearance in this, but the rest of the pets have an adventure in the dark and spooky woods and Chester makes up an origin story for Bunnicula with his characteristic over-imagination that I really liked. This is such a fun series.
December 14, 2025
This is the last of the series that I remember having read but I didn’t remember much and like the previous installments, it was pure fun, especially getting Chester’s version of Bunnicula’s origin.
September 7, 2018
Update, 8/31/18:
Bumping from two to three stars.
It's official. Chester was a crack kitty... but I reckon a lot of cats are. Seriously, though. This cat needs to take a chill pill. There was nothing remotely villainous going on, though I confess the people and dog they came across were a bit weird and would have unnerved most others. Still, he made a great, big, boiling volcano out of a little, old, trickling spring and frightened everyone to death. It's not like this isn't his M.O. in all the other books, but he ramps it up a couple of notches in this one by giving us Bunnicula's origin story which was slightly darker in tone than everything in the rest of the series (but still nothing kids can't handle). It was also, like most of his stuff, complete rabbit feces. Still, it was fun and, according to Howie the wise-cracking dachshund, a hare-raising tale.
Howie is still Howie, using puns and jokes pillaged straight from Kornfield county.
"I've seen better conversations in alphabet soup."
You can find one every two or three pages, and I'll exemplify with one of the last ones. Chester is struck speechless for the first time in his life and seems to be in shock when Howie remarks that he "looks sick... Better bring the cat a tonic." This was one of the better ones since it wasn't so blatantly obvious or stressed with italics, and Howie wasn't laughing at his own rapier wit and pointing it out to the others with "Get it, uncle Harold? Do you get it?" But he should've been pelted with rubber chickens for some of his other groaners. Luckily for Mr. Howe, I enjoy bad jokes... most of the time. Hell, I watch Svengoolie and Hee Haw reruns every single week. But the delivery has to be right (dry with a twist), and Howie missed on occasion. There were also puns hidden in the other characters' dialogues and thoughts; this book was just filled with them. These are things most kids wouldn't catch, but a lot of adults would appreciate them.
There were references galore in this, and someone could have a lot of fun picking out all the Easter eggs. I began to wonder if Howie's name was one of them. Could it be that he was named after another bad comic who shared his moniker? I grew suspicious, and though I can't confirm my fears, I must point out that it's quite within the realm of possibility. Howliday Inn came out in 1982 which means James Howe was writing it when Howie Mandel was just starting to hit it big on TV.
Here's Howie's possible namesake in his finest role, a movie I still can't bear to watch for more than five minutes; I tried just a couple of weeks ago.
If I find out that such is the case, I may have to just sit down and weep.
Bunnicula's not even in this book, though that was the case with the Howliday Inn as well. The story is fine, and I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't hold it against anyone if they decided to quit the series before getting to this one; it's just not quite the same. I can neither recommend nor not recommend it. Sorry.
Original review, 8/16/10:
The fourth installment of the Bunnicula series, and I had to look it up to remember what it was about. There was a camping trip, some new characters, and I don't know. I remember nothing about it other than that. It gets a two.
Bumping from two to three stars.
It's official. Chester was a crack kitty... but I reckon a lot of cats are. Seriously, though. This cat needs to take a chill pill. There was nothing remotely villainous going on, though I confess the people and dog they came across were a bit weird and would have unnerved most others. Still, he made a great, big, boiling volcano out of a little, old, trickling spring and frightened everyone to death. It's not like this isn't his M.O. in all the other books, but he ramps it up a couple of notches in this one by giving us Bunnicula's origin story which was slightly darker in tone than everything in the rest of the series (but still nothing kids can't handle). It was also, like most of his stuff, complete rabbit feces. Still, it was fun and, according to Howie the wise-cracking dachshund, a hare-raising tale.
Howie is still Howie, using puns and jokes pillaged straight from Kornfield county.
"I've seen better conversations in alphabet soup."
You can find one every two or three pages, and I'll exemplify with one of the last ones. Chester is struck speechless for the first time in his life and seems to be in shock when Howie remarks that he "looks sick... Better bring the cat a tonic." This was one of the better ones since it wasn't so blatantly obvious or stressed with italics, and Howie wasn't laughing at his own rapier wit and pointing it out to the others with "Get it, uncle Harold? Do you get it?" But he should've been pelted with rubber chickens for some of his other groaners. Luckily for Mr. Howe, I enjoy bad jokes... most of the time. Hell, I watch Svengoolie and Hee Haw reruns every single week. But the delivery has to be right (dry with a twist), and Howie missed on occasion. There were also puns hidden in the other characters' dialogues and thoughts; this book was just filled with them. These are things most kids wouldn't catch, but a lot of adults would appreciate them.
There were references galore in this, and someone could have a lot of fun picking out all the Easter eggs. I began to wonder if Howie's name was one of them. Could it be that he was named after another bad comic who shared his moniker? I grew suspicious, and though I can't confirm my fears, I must point out that it's quite within the realm of possibility. Howliday Inn came out in 1982 which means James Howe was writing it when Howie Mandel was just starting to hit it big on TV.
Here's Howie's possible namesake in his finest role, a movie I still can't bear to watch for more than five minutes; I tried just a couple of weeks ago.
If I find out that such is the case, I may have to just sit down and weep.
Bunnicula's not even in this book, though that was the case with the Howliday Inn as well. The story is fine, and I enjoyed it, but I wouldn't hold it against anyone if they decided to quit the series before getting to this one; it's just not quite the same. I can neither recommend nor not recommend it. Sorry.
Original review, 8/16/10:
The fourth installment of the Bunnicula series, and I had to look it up to remember what it was about. There was a camping trip, some new characters, and I don't know. I remember nothing about it other than that. It gets a two.
January 26, 2022
I enjoyed this installment of Bunnicula quite a bit. The family goes on a camping trip and the pet (except Bunnicula) get to go along for the ride. They meet some other dogs and get into some antics, naturally. This book has nothing to do with Bunnicula, as most don't!
May 28, 2024
Nighty-Nightmare by James Howe is the creepy 4th installment in the Bunnicula series. The Monroe family are spending a few days at “Lake Expectations,” the family cabin retreat. While Mr. Monroe and Harold are sitting in a canoe on Boggy Lake, Mr. Monroe is reflecting on his life and decides the family should be adventurous and go on an overnight camping trip. Everyone is on board except Chester. He informs Harold, “The fifth of May is St. George’s Day. When midnight tolls, the devil has sway.” Of course, Harold pays him no attention because he has s’mores on his mind. However, Harold is in for a bit of a surprise when the family encounters some unusual campers and their dog named Dawg. Shortly after, Harold and his two furry friends get lost in the woods with Dawg, and he soon realizes things are not what they seem.
This story is fantastic! It has a terrific setting, mysterious characters, and an engaging storyline. The creepy atmosphere of the woods is perfect for Chester’s “hare-raising tale” about Bunnicula’s origin story. I think it is the creepiest book of the series, so far. Creepy in a good way. It is also pretty suspenseful. Harold, Chester, and Howie must again have courage and trust their instincts (and each other) as they navigate the woods in an effort to get back to the Monroes. For being so short, it has lots of twists and turns and an unexpected ending that was a pleasant surprise. It really hits home with the importance of perception and not to judge others based on appearances or different backgrounds.
James Howe’s writing in Nighty-Nightmare is witty, heartwarming, and entertaining. I love the heart-to-heart scene at the beginning of the story with Mr. Monroe and Harold in the canoe. Leslie H. Morrill’s illustrations are wonderful. I especially love the ones of the animals. This story is perfect for reading aloud with the character accents and Chester’s story. Victor Garber’s narration is on point and adds another layer of enjoyment. Hopefully, readers will not be disappointed that Bunnicula did not go on the camping trip. In my opinion, his origin story makes up for his absence. Nighty-Nightmare is amazing and definitely worth the read.
This story is fantastic! It has a terrific setting, mysterious characters, and an engaging storyline. The creepy atmosphere of the woods is perfect for Chester’s “hare-raising tale” about Bunnicula’s origin story. I think it is the creepiest book of the series, so far. Creepy in a good way. It is also pretty suspenseful. Harold, Chester, and Howie must again have courage and trust their instincts (and each other) as they navigate the woods in an effort to get back to the Monroes. For being so short, it has lots of twists and turns and an unexpected ending that was a pleasant surprise. It really hits home with the importance of perception and not to judge others based on appearances or different backgrounds.
James Howe’s writing in Nighty-Nightmare is witty, heartwarming, and entertaining. I love the heart-to-heart scene at the beginning of the story with Mr. Monroe and Harold in the canoe. Leslie H. Morrill’s illustrations are wonderful. I especially love the ones of the animals. This story is perfect for reading aloud with the character accents and Chester’s story. Victor Garber’s narration is on point and adds another layer of enjoyment. Hopefully, readers will not be disappointed that Bunnicula did not go on the camping trip. In my opinion, his origin story makes up for his absence. Nighty-Nightmare is amazing and definitely worth the read.
November 11, 2021
Nighty-Nightmare, James Howe, 1987
My favorite quote: “‘In the woods it’s always dark,’ he said. ‘In the forest of the soul it’s always night.’”
Notable characters: Harold, our canine narrator; Chester, his feline friend; Howie, the young punster, the Monroes, their oblivious human family; Bud, Spud, and Dawg, their mysterious camping companions
Most memorable scene: Chester’s entire story about Dr. Emil Alphonse Diabolicus, aka, Dr. E.A.D., was to, ahem, die for
Greatest strengths: The pure (well, strongly implied, anyway) creepiness of Bud, Spud, and Dawg
Standout achievements: This installment has serious Dracula vibes … a big part of why I love it so much
Fun Facts: This was the last one in this series that I read as a kid — so I’m excited the read the rest of them and see if I love them as much as an adult
Other media: N/A
What it taught me: That St. George’s Day is an actual thing … and that it’s actually on April 23rd
How it inspired me: Reading this book (and the others in this series) reminds me that there’s great power in simplicity — that as a writer, you must resist the power to overwrite, and always, always trust the imaginations of the readers
Additional thoughts: I feel bad that Chester is always wrong in the end. Just once, I’d like his terrible suspicions to be founded. But alas, everyone likes a happy ending …
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
My favorite quote: “‘In the woods it’s always dark,’ he said. ‘In the forest of the soul it’s always night.’”
Notable characters: Harold, our canine narrator; Chester, his feline friend; Howie, the young punster, the Monroes, their oblivious human family; Bud, Spud, and Dawg, their mysterious camping companions
Most memorable scene: Chester’s entire story about Dr. Emil Alphonse Diabolicus, aka, Dr. E.A.D., was to, ahem, die for
Greatest strengths: The pure (well, strongly implied, anyway) creepiness of Bud, Spud, and Dawg
Standout achievements: This installment has serious Dracula vibes … a big part of why I love it so much
Fun Facts: This was the last one in this series that I read as a kid — so I’m excited the read the rest of them and see if I love them as much as an adult
Other media: N/A
What it taught me: That St. George’s Day is an actual thing … and that it’s actually on April 23rd
How it inspired me: Reading this book (and the others in this series) reminds me that there’s great power in simplicity — that as a writer, you must resist the power to overwrite, and always, always trust the imaginations of the readers
Additional thoughts: I feel bad that Chester is always wrong in the end. Just once, I’d like his terrible suspicions to be founded. But alas, everyone likes a happy ending …
Haunt me: alistaircross.com
June 27, 2019
In terms of plotline and depth of story, Nighty-Nightmare is quite similar to The Celery Stalks at Midnight: both are very short and rather limited in the scale of the story. Plotwise, these two are among the least complex of the series.
But even with the relative brevity of these stories, James Howe manages to pack in a lot of endearing humor and fun character interactions! And out of these two Bunnicula books, I enjoy Nighty-Nightmare quite a bit more. The story in this one is much less of a rehash of the first book, and the new characters get more development as well. Chester's made-up Bunnicula origin story does slow things down but it is definitely the kind of insane story Chester would come up with!
Nighty-Nightmare may not measure up to Howliday Inn, but it is a short and sweet addition to the series!
But even with the relative brevity of these stories, James Howe manages to pack in a lot of endearing humor and fun character interactions! And out of these two Bunnicula books, I enjoy Nighty-Nightmare quite a bit more. The story in this one is much less of a rehash of the first book, and the new characters get more development as well. Chester's made-up Bunnicula origin story does slow things down but it is definitely the kind of insane story Chester would come up with!
Nighty-Nightmare may not measure up to Howliday Inn, but it is a short and sweet addition to the series!
November 12, 2022
The Moore’s go camping and take their pets. (Everyone takes their cat camping!) Anyhow the pets are off on a walk with Dog while the Moore’s are chatting with Dog’s owners. (Yes Dog is the dogs name.). When they get lost on their walk and have to spend the night in the woods, Chester tells a scary story, the story Bunnicula.
March 7, 2020
3.5 stars
This was one of the shorter Bunnicula stories and doesn't even really have Bunnicula in it, partly because Bunnicula can't go camping, lol. I thought this one was okay, but not one of my favorites. I did find it fun when I found out the professions of the two twins.
This was one of the shorter Bunnicula stories and doesn't even really have Bunnicula in it, partly because Bunnicula can't go camping, lol. I thought this one was okay, but not one of my favorites. I did find it fun when I found out the professions of the two twins.
August 31, 2021
I adore this series
I try to read at least one a year while camping
This one was super cute. It centres on a camping trip gone wrong and a retelling of Dracula that includes the backstory for bunnicula
Can’t wait to read the next one!
This series is perfect for younger folks who are looking for a spooky read for the October season
I try to read at least one a year while camping
This one was super cute. It centres on a camping trip gone wrong and a retelling of Dracula that includes the backstory for bunnicula
Can’t wait to read the next one!
This series is perfect for younger folks who are looking for a spooky read for the October season
January 7, 2024
From my 7 year old.
Harold can you please first do something to Chester? Tell him to stop reading for one week.
I liked the story Chester told, but even though he said it was real, I don’t believe it. But it was funny.
Dawg was the silliest character because his name is silly, so I kind of think he is silly.
The author did a really great job writing this story.
Mom’s note: A story within a story. Kind of a spooky campfire tale vibe. Chester really leans into his active imagination yet again in this one.
Harold can you please first do something to Chester? Tell him to stop reading for one week.
I liked the story Chester told, but even though he said it was real, I don’t believe it. But it was funny.
Dawg was the silliest character because his name is silly, so I kind of think he is silly.
The author did a really great job writing this story.
Mom’s note: A story within a story. Kind of a spooky campfire tale vibe. Chester really leans into his active imagination yet again in this one.
October 25, 2019
How much is bunnicula actually in the bunnicula series? Other than the first one he's not really in them. He's kinda in the 3rd one. Still a cute book. This series is adorable
October 15, 2023
Audiobook
October 31, 2024
Oh the nightmares!!
April 15, 2025
The telling of a scary story being the major plot point of this book was equally surprising and engaging, much to my surprise.
July 17, 2021
Howie’s puns are hysterical! But please no chocolate for dogs it’s toxic to them!
January 20, 2024
I love the Bunnicula series and the dog and cat characters. This 4th book in the series was cute and had some LOL moments. And it was scary and mysterious. But I didn't really like Dawg and his weirdo family. Plus, Bunnicula himself was sadly absent from the story. :(
After reading other reviews to see whether I was way off-base or not, I found this review. And it was so hilarious that I stole it- lol!:
"which brings us to Nighty-Nightmare. bunnicula appears twice, although only anecdotally - once, in a campfire origin story chester improvises about him - which chester seems to 100% believe by the end of it because he is so susceptible to stories, he even believes the ones he makes up himself. and secondly, at the very end of the book, when pete calls a friend and learns that while they have all been gone on vacation, bunnicula has been knocking tails with a girl rabbit as part of a merit badge project (pete's, not bunnicula's, silly!) and now there are going to be baby vampire bunnies in the near future! and also a merit badge for pete for "rabbit raising," which is code for "animal pimpery.
as far as the non-bunnicula parts go - while searching for a place to pitch their tents, the monroes and attendant pets meet two rough-looking brothers named bud and spud and their bulldog dawg. the animals go off on a woodsy tour with dawg, get turned around and have to spend the night in the woods, chester spooks everyone (but mostly himself) with his characteristic paranoia while howie bombards them all with puns. so many puns. chester begins to suspect dawg is getting them lost on purpose and that the monroes, left behind with bud and spud, are in danger from the men and also from spirits because why not worry about everything at once? there’s rain and a full moon and it’s nearing midnight on saint george’s day and chester’s psyching himself out with his own lapine-based horror stories and there’s a creepy abandoned house and ZERO S’MORES FOR HAROLD and dawg says some mildly ominous things that chester blows out of proportion and they find the monroe's campsite but no monroes and is that blood??
it’s a long night, but there’s not much actual conflict. far from tensions escalating to a fever pitch, at the height of the drama, they all… fall asleep and everything is resolved bright and early the next day, and the monroes aren't even all that concerned that (nearly) all their pets have been out in the unfamiliar woods in the rain all night. and then toby feeds harold some microwave s'mores which is a no-no on both culinary and pet-owning grounds.
it's a mere wisp of a story. the alternate working title of this book was probably the night some pets experienced mild discomfort in the woods but it all worked out okay in the end. or that time the monroes revealed themselves to be elitist snobs. or seriously, how is harold still even alive with all the crap toby feeds him?"
P.S. I miss the old 80's cover art. :(
After reading other reviews to see whether I was way off-base or not, I found this review. And it was so hilarious that I stole it- lol!:
"which brings us to Nighty-Nightmare. bunnicula appears twice, although only anecdotally - once, in a campfire origin story chester improvises about him - which chester seems to 100% believe by the end of it because he is so susceptible to stories, he even believes the ones he makes up himself. and secondly, at the very end of the book, when pete calls a friend and learns that while they have all been gone on vacation, bunnicula has been knocking tails with a girl rabbit as part of a merit badge project (pete's, not bunnicula's, silly!) and now there are going to be baby vampire bunnies in the near future! and also a merit badge for pete for "rabbit raising," which is code for "animal pimpery.
as far as the non-bunnicula parts go - while searching for a place to pitch their tents, the monroes and attendant pets meet two rough-looking brothers named bud and spud and their bulldog dawg. the animals go off on a woodsy tour with dawg, get turned around and have to spend the night in the woods, chester spooks everyone (but mostly himself) with his characteristic paranoia while howie bombards them all with puns. so many puns. chester begins to suspect dawg is getting them lost on purpose and that the monroes, left behind with bud and spud, are in danger from the men and also from spirits because why not worry about everything at once? there’s rain and a full moon and it’s nearing midnight on saint george’s day and chester’s psyching himself out with his own lapine-based horror stories and there’s a creepy abandoned house and ZERO S’MORES FOR HAROLD and dawg says some mildly ominous things that chester blows out of proportion and they find the monroe's campsite but no monroes and is that blood??
it’s a long night, but there’s not much actual conflict. far from tensions escalating to a fever pitch, at the height of the drama, they all… fall asleep and everything is resolved bright and early the next day, and the monroes aren't even all that concerned that (nearly) all their pets have been out in the unfamiliar woods in the rain all night. and then toby feeds harold some microwave s'mores which is a no-no on both culinary and pet-owning grounds.
it's a mere wisp of a story. the alternate working title of this book was probably the night some pets experienced mild discomfort in the woods but it all worked out okay in the end. or that time the monroes revealed themselves to be elitist snobs. or seriously, how is harold still even alive with all the crap toby feeds him?"
P.S. I miss the old 80's cover art. :(
October 31, 2017
Mr. Monroe has decided it's time for a family adventure, so the Monroes go camping together, brining along their pets Chester, Harold and Howie. When they run into a few other campers, Chester, always certain that a nightmare awaits just around the corner, starts to believe these new friends, Bud, Spud, and their pet Dawg, are up to no good. When they become separated from the Monroes, the faithful pets anxiously try to get back to protect their family.
There's plenty of entertaining banter here, as always, but I thought the plot fell a little flat. The story within a story was a little long and involved. It took up two out of the total nine chapters, but it's integration into the climax wasn't special enough to merit taking up that much of the book.
Series Review | TpT Store | Pinterest
There's plenty of entertaining banter here, as always, but I thought the plot fell a little flat. The story within a story was a little long and involved. It took up two out of the total nine chapters, but it's integration into the climax wasn't special enough to merit taking up that much of the book.
Series Review | TpT Store | Pinterest
February 7, 2017
It's always interesting revisiting children's books once you're grown. While I didn't have the pleasure of reading through the whole of the Bunnicula series as a child, I did greatly enjoy the first book of it. Now, reading through the rest of the series as an adult to complete it all, I'm having the time of my life. These are definitely great books for kids and would have only been more enjoyable then than they are now. Though, to be fair, reading them as an adult I can get some of the literary references that likely would have gone over my head as a child. Friday the Thirteenth and Stephen King in general, anyone?
Nighty-Nightmare is a Bunnicula book of which the rabbit is only talked about rather than present. Why, you may ask? Because the family is on a camping trip and only brought Harold, Chester, and Howie along. Also, as a note to new readers, definitely take the time to read the editor's note at the beginning of each book - they are part of the story and greatly enjoyable. I love how they evolve. Back to the plot. So, on this camping trip they meet the mysterious strangers Bud, Spud, and their dog named Dawg and soon are on a small hike in the woods with them... at night... with a storm threatening. Chester's imagination runs wild, and soon even Harold agrees something nefarious just might be afoot!
This book was greatly enjoyable for me. I liked the creepy atmosphere of the woods, the absurd colloquial writing of Bud, Spud, and Dawg's speech, and the overall rhythm of the story itself. It seems like it is a book that was written to be read aloud, especially Chester's story near the middle of it. Chester himself was wonderful in this book, and there was even a heartwarming scene at the beginning in the form of a conversation between Mr. Monroe and Harold. Overall, this series has been fantastic. I love that time passes in it, that character's grow and evolve and their relationships change. It's a surprisingly mature thread to weave through children's books and I admire James Howe for the masterful way in which he spun it.
Nighty-Nightmare is a Bunnicula book of which the rabbit is only talked about rather than present. Why, you may ask? Because the family is on a camping trip and only brought Harold, Chester, and Howie along. Also, as a note to new readers, definitely take the time to read the editor's note at the beginning of each book - they are part of the story and greatly enjoyable. I love how they evolve. Back to the plot. So, on this camping trip they meet the mysterious strangers Bud, Spud, and their dog named Dawg and soon are on a small hike in the woods with them... at night... with a storm threatening. Chester's imagination runs wild, and soon even Harold agrees something nefarious just might be afoot!
This book was greatly enjoyable for me. I liked the creepy atmosphere of the woods, the absurd colloquial writing of Bud, Spud, and Dawg's speech, and the overall rhythm of the story itself. It seems like it is a book that was written to be read aloud, especially Chester's story near the middle of it. Chester himself was wonderful in this book, and there was even a heartwarming scene at the beginning in the form of a conversation between Mr. Monroe and Harold. Overall, this series has been fantastic. I love that time passes in it, that character's grow and evolve and their relationships change. It's a surprisingly mature thread to weave through children's books and I admire James Howe for the masterful way in which he spun it.
December 12, 2023
I feel like this series kind of runs out of steam a bit around here, although I haven't read any of the books that came after this, so maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps things pick up a bit. It just was in stark relief for me because I got this one to read to my older kid, while at the same time starting in on "Bunnicula" again with my younger kid. Bunnicula works so well - it's really funny and engaging. I thought Howliday Inn was pretty good too, and Celery Stalks at Midnight had the added comic aspect of Howie the puppy calling Chester "Pop." But this one...nothing really happens. It kind of feels like Howe wanted to have a little Bunnicula backstory, but couldn't get more than two chapters out of it so he stuck it into this camping story that doesn't really amount to anything.
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