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Bunnicula: The Graphic Novels #1
Bunnicula the Graphic Novel
Celebrate over forty years of the modern classic Bunnicula with this graphic novelization!
Beware the hare!
Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household—a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits…and fangs! Could this innocent-seeming rabbit actually be a vampire?
Beware the hare!
Harold the dog and Chester the cat must find out the truth about the newest pet in the Monroe household—a suspicious-looking bunny with unusual habits…and fangs! Could this innocent-seeming rabbit actually be a vampire?
128 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2022
72 people are currently reading
542 people want to read
About the author
James Howe
218 books459 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 244 reviews
May 20, 2022
A Bunnicula graphic novel?! Bunnicula was one of my all-time faves as a kid and this is so exciting. ♥ I have read the original book more times than I can count, but I think this adaptation might be even better somehow. Bunnicula is the kind of story that works so well in a visual format, and this was executed wonderfully. The art is fun and cute, the animals have expressive faces that are so endearing and lovable, and little Bunnicula himself is an absolute doll. Chester's most hilarious moments are played out so well that I laughed out loud a lot reading this, and Harold, of course, is precious, wise, and charming.
If you've never read Bunnicula in any format, I highly recommend picking it up. Told through the perspective of Harold the dog, we watch the Monroe family adapt to life with a very odd new orphaned bunny who has a shocking, spooky secret. Chester the cat is a monster-obsessed bookworm with a very big imagination and some hilarious schemes to unveil Bunnicula's true identity to the oblivious humans, and Harold finds himself torn between helping his old friend and protecting the new baby of the family. The entire story is so funny and zany and warm-hearted, and it has built itself a legacy amongst readers of all ages for a very good reason! I can't wait to get a finished copy of this to read to my kiddo, and to re-read for myself many times over, just like the original!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
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If you've never read Bunnicula in any format, I highly recommend picking it up. Told through the perspective of Harold the dog, we watch the Monroe family adapt to life with a very odd new orphaned bunny who has a shocking, spooky secret. Chester the cat is a monster-obsessed bookworm with a very big imagination and some hilarious schemes to unveil Bunnicula's true identity to the oblivious humans, and Harold finds himself torn between helping his old friend and protecting the new baby of the family. The entire story is so funny and zany and warm-hearted, and it has built itself a legacy amongst readers of all ages for a very good reason! I can't wait to get a finished copy of this to read to my kiddo, and to re-read for myself many times over, just like the original!
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.
———
twitter | booktok | bookstagram | blog
October 15, 2022
SPOOKTOBER CAN ALSO BE CUTE!
April 24, 2025
This was funny and wonderful. I adore the Bunnicula world! Only gave it 4 stars cause the art style is not my fave and I adore the original series and audiobooks so much 🥰 Still a wonderful addition in the Bunnicula world and if you enjoy graphic novels I highly recommend!
October 7, 2022
Wasn't wildly fond of the art style in this new graphic novel but love this series.
October 27, 2022
Our six-year-old loved the original Bunnicula and asked for the graphic novel from the school book fair. We read a chapter or two every night, and then he kept reading it in bed by himself with his little book light after lights out. Truly the cutest. We <3 Harold!
November 11, 2022
1. I think Bunnicula is my favorite childhood book. I have read it so many times.
2. In general, I don't care for graphic adaptations of novels.
3. This one, however, was perfect.
I loved the art. I loved Harold breaking the 4th wall to give his little asides with a knowing look. All of the scenes and story beats that always make me cackle were drawn so perfectly that I eagerly anticipated each one with each turn of a page. The expressions on Chester were oh so very everything I wanted.
From one story super fan to this artistic team: very well done. Uproarious applause.
2. In general, I don't care for graphic adaptations of novels.
3. This one, however, was perfect.
I loved the art. I loved Harold breaking the 4th wall to give his little asides with a knowing look. All of the scenes and story beats that always make me cackle were drawn so perfectly that I eagerly anticipated each one with each turn of a page. The expressions on Chester were oh so very everything I wanted.
From one story super fan to this artistic team: very well done. Uproarious applause.
March 3, 2024
I loved the novel when I was a kid, so I was really excited to read this. It's still just as cute and charming as it was back then. The art is beautiful, and there are some jokes for older audiences snuck in.
December 19, 2022
If you like vampires you will like this book.
October 25, 2022
A very cute adaptation of one of my all time favorite childhood books
Read
October 26, 2022First time Bunnicula reader and I'm a fan!
July 14, 2024
Aside from filling this prompt, I’ve been wanting to read a graphic novel and the original novel side by side in order to have a discussion with my students about pros and cons of each, or really just differences. I adore the original Bunnicula and look forward to its rotation into our battle list every three years. The graphic novel altered very little, but some of the visuals were divine. Particularly surrounding my favorite character, Chester the cat. There were a smattering of references, such as, Fluffy the Vampire Slayer, that would have been to modern to make it original book.
52 Book Club24: #22 - A plot similar to another book
52 Book Club24: #22 - A plot similar to another book
July 2, 2022
A fun adaptation that will charm a new generation of readers. The art is cartoonish, which fits the story well. (Even if, as another reviewer noted, the cat’s face is weirdly human at times.) Poor little innocent Bunnicula is drawn to look as harmless as can be, when we all know what evil lurks in his un-beating heart. The graphic novel keeps the original’s framing device, i.e. the story is narrated by the dog. While the dog’s thoughts are often humorous, comics are a visual medium—having so much interior dialogue on the page clutters the art and slows the story. It’s a small quibble, really, as young readers will sink their teeth into it regardless.
January 19, 2023
How did I miss reading this book as a kid? Or even earlier in my library career? Glad to read it now, and in graphic novel format, which is so much fun! Loved this
January 26, 2023
I remember loving Bunnicula as a kid, so when my own child got the graphic novel, I had to give it a read!
It's fun and cute and I loved Chester the cat. He stole the show.
It's fun and cute and I loved Chester the cat. He stole the show.
April 7, 2023
Cute graphic novel version of a classic tale of a vampire bunny...or is he?
May 17, 2023
I love bunnicula
It was so fun to read it in this graphic form
It was so fun to read it in this graphic form
October 27, 2022
I read this aloud to my 7 year old son and we had a great time with it. I remember Bunnicula from when I was a kid and I actually read it aloud to my son a couple of years ago although he doesn’t remember. This graphic novel was excellent! We loved the illustrations. I can see us revisiting this book often. It’s already a new family favorite. Highly recommend for kids or nostalgia adults, or anyone whether you’ve read the original or not.
August 12, 2023
I loved the Bunnicula book as a child, so this graphic novel adaptation was a treat. I enjoyed the illustrations -they add a lot of humor to the story.
December 3, 2025
Bildiğimiz Dracula mitosu üzerinden çaktırmadan kardeş kıskançlığı temasını işleyen 10 yaş üstü çocuklar (ve büyükler) için yazılmış komik ve sevimli bir grafik roman.
March 8, 2025
Years ago, I read some of the books in the Bunnicula series as a child. It wasn't until earlier this year, on Goodreads, that I saw The Celery Stalks at Midnight and it all came back to me. Since then, I have found the original Bunnicula book and I loved it. So when I saw that there was also this graphic novel, I pounced on it - a bit like Chester pouncing on Bunnicula, to try and stop getting his sustenance from the salad presented to him.
This was such a fun read. The tale is given to us by Harold the dog. He lives with Chester the cat. Their family is the Monroes. They have two children. One night, when visiting the cinema, they discover a rabbit in a cardboard box. Taking pity on it, they take it home. Then strange things appear to happen to their vegetables. Chester becomes convinced that the new addition to their house - Bunnicula - is in fact a vampire rabbit. He just has to prove it.
There are many times that I laughed out loud at this story. Even having read the original book, reading the graphic novel was still fun. The artwork is great, it really does bring Harold, Chester and co. to life It would be fantastic if they brought the other books in the series into graphic novel form too, but either way I will definitely continue the series.
This was such a fun read. The tale is given to us by Harold the dog. He lives with Chester the cat. Their family is the Monroes. They have two children. One night, when visiting the cinema, they discover a rabbit in a cardboard box. Taking pity on it, they take it home. Then strange things appear to happen to their vegetables. Chester becomes convinced that the new addition to their house - Bunnicula - is in fact a vampire rabbit. He just has to prove it.
There are many times that I laughed out loud at this story. Even having read the original book, reading the graphic novel was still fun. The artwork is great, it really does bring Harold, Chester and co. to life It would be fantastic if they brought the other books in the series into graphic novel form too, but either way I will definitely continue the series.
January 27, 2023
Absolutely adorable, and hit all the nostalgia buttons for sure. I loved the novel as a kid, and this adaptation does it justice - the artwork fits the story well, and the story is exactly as I remember it. We all need a bit of Bunnicula in our lives!
May 5, 2022
This is fantastic! What a great way to revisit this classic story. Note: I read an ARC in which illustrations were black and white but they’ll be full color in the final version — can’t wait.
December 30, 2022
What worked:
It’s been a long, long time since I’ve read the “Bunnicula” novel but this graphic version seems to follow the gist of the plot. The bunny is discovered at a theater when the Monroe family visits to watch the movie “Dracula”. Combine bunny with Dracula and you get Bunnicula. Bunnicula is the topic of the plot but he doesn’t speak and doesn’t do much of anything besides sleep. The lack of a discernable personality adds to the mystique of this character. The less information readers know about a character the more possibilities they can imagine about him. Even at the end of the book, the author never clarifies Bunnicula’s character and it’s left to readers to decide if they agree with the family cat’s point of view.
The story is narrated by the Monroes’ pet dog Harold with additional insight provided by the family cat named Chester. Chester loves to read books and he has a special interest in the supernatural. Combine this with his vivid imagination and all kinds of strange ideas swirl in his mind. Harold’s narration shares eerie events occurring around the house although he’s unable to explain them. Maybe the family is right and the white vegetables are the result of chemicals used by farmers. Buy organic. Harold also includes his doggie thoughts of munching snacks with Toby Monroe or the ideal treat of cupcakes with cream filling. Navigating the life of pets with an investigation into the secrets of the new bunny result in an amusing, entertaining adventure.
The colorful illustrations mostly accompany the text rather than replace it. Boxes and voice bubbles are used to differentiate Harold’s narration from the characters’ dialogue. This technique is a fine example for young readers to learn how an author uses the first-person point of view to tell a story. Young readers can easily connect with dog and cat characters and Chester’s various moods are clearly depicted in the graphics. The scenes with Chester impersonating a vampire and battling a tossed salad are especially humorous.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot is very simple and lacks a major conflict. The whole story tries to uncover the mystery of Bunnicula but the bunny isn’t much of a problem. Unless you believe Chester. However, the book is a cute tale of family pets learning to get along.
The Final Verdict:
This graphic novel can be read before or after the novel with equal enjoyment. Using Harold’s voice to tell the story, having a cat with an over-active imagination, and utilizing descriptive illustrations create a new version of an old children’s favorite. I recommend you give this graphic version of “Bunnicula” a shot.
It’s been a long, long time since I’ve read the “Bunnicula” novel but this graphic version seems to follow the gist of the plot. The bunny is discovered at a theater when the Monroe family visits to watch the movie “Dracula”. Combine bunny with Dracula and you get Bunnicula. Bunnicula is the topic of the plot but he doesn’t speak and doesn’t do much of anything besides sleep. The lack of a discernable personality adds to the mystique of this character. The less information readers know about a character the more possibilities they can imagine about him. Even at the end of the book, the author never clarifies Bunnicula’s character and it’s left to readers to decide if they agree with the family cat’s point of view.
The story is narrated by the Monroes’ pet dog Harold with additional insight provided by the family cat named Chester. Chester loves to read books and he has a special interest in the supernatural. Combine this with his vivid imagination and all kinds of strange ideas swirl in his mind. Harold’s narration shares eerie events occurring around the house although he’s unable to explain them. Maybe the family is right and the white vegetables are the result of chemicals used by farmers. Buy organic. Harold also includes his doggie thoughts of munching snacks with Toby Monroe or the ideal treat of cupcakes with cream filling. Navigating the life of pets with an investigation into the secrets of the new bunny result in an amusing, entertaining adventure.
The colorful illustrations mostly accompany the text rather than replace it. Boxes and voice bubbles are used to differentiate Harold’s narration from the characters’ dialogue. This technique is a fine example for young readers to learn how an author uses the first-person point of view to tell a story. Young readers can easily connect with dog and cat characters and Chester’s various moods are clearly depicted in the graphics. The scenes with Chester impersonating a vampire and battling a tossed salad are especially humorous.
What didn’t work as well:
The plot is very simple and lacks a major conflict. The whole story tries to uncover the mystery of Bunnicula but the bunny isn’t much of a problem. Unless you believe Chester. However, the book is a cute tale of family pets learning to get along.
The Final Verdict:
This graphic novel can be read before or after the novel with equal enjoyment. Using Harold’s voice to tell the story, having a cat with an over-active imagination, and utilizing descriptive illustrations create a new version of an old children’s favorite. I recommend you give this graphic version of “Bunnicula” a shot.
June 1, 2022
(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC in exchange for review through Edelweiss.)
I was a huge bookworm as a kid (still am!), and - along with Nancy Drew, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Encyclopedia Brown - Bunnicula was one of my favorite series. So I was stoked when I discovered the graphic novel adaptation on Edelweiss.
BUNNICULA: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL follows the plot of the inaugural book, BUNNICULA: A RABBIT-TALE OF MYSTERY: while attending a screening of the movie DRACULA, a family finds an abandoned rabbit in one of the theater seats. The Monroes - mom and dad and their sons Pete and Toby - bring the little ball of fluff home and christen him Bunnicula, after the circumstances of his (very strange and spooky) discovery. Shortly after Bunnicula's adoption, weird things start happening in the Monroe household - most glaringly, some of the family's vegetables go white overnight.
The cat of the house, Chester, becomes convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire who will soon lead to the family's destruction. His attempts to unmask (then murder!) Bunnicula rubs his canine friend Harold the wrong way, and he soon takes Bunnicula's side.
Though it's been ages since I've read the books, the graphic novel seems to be a pretty faithful retelling of the story; a fun way of revisiting an old favorite, but in a new medium. It's strange; it didn't feel like a whole lot happened, plot-wise, for an 128-page comic book (and one that's heavy on narration, at that); and yet the story is fun, engaging, and moves at a pretty steady clip.
It's hard to judge the artwork, since the ARC isn't full-color, but I enjoyed the illustrations and thought they suited the overall vibe of the story quite well. My only complaint: Chester's face has this weird, humanoid quality that I found really disconcerting in an Uncanny Valley way.
I was a huge bookworm as a kid (still am!), and - along with Nancy Drew, The Baby-Sitters Club, and Encyclopedia Brown - Bunnicula was one of my favorite series. So I was stoked when I discovered the graphic novel adaptation on Edelweiss.
BUNNICULA: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL follows the plot of the inaugural book, BUNNICULA: A RABBIT-TALE OF MYSTERY: while attending a screening of the movie DRACULA, a family finds an abandoned rabbit in one of the theater seats. The Monroes - mom and dad and their sons Pete and Toby - bring the little ball of fluff home and christen him Bunnicula, after the circumstances of his (very strange and spooky) discovery. Shortly after Bunnicula's adoption, weird things start happening in the Monroe household - most glaringly, some of the family's vegetables go white overnight.
The cat of the house, Chester, becomes convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire who will soon lead to the family's destruction. His attempts to unmask (then murder!) Bunnicula rubs his canine friend Harold the wrong way, and he soon takes Bunnicula's side.
Though it's been ages since I've read the books, the graphic novel seems to be a pretty faithful retelling of the story; a fun way of revisiting an old favorite, but in a new medium. It's strange; it didn't feel like a whole lot happened, plot-wise, for an 128-page comic book (and one that's heavy on narration, at that); and yet the story is fun, engaging, and moves at a pretty steady clip.
It's hard to judge the artwork, since the ARC isn't full-color, but I enjoyed the illustrations and thought they suited the overall vibe of the story quite well. My only complaint: Chester's face has this weird, humanoid quality that I found really disconcerting in an Uncanny Valley way.
March 6, 2023
The chapter book by James Howe was a favorite of my daughter in early grade school. Now Howe has collaborated with Andrew Donkin and illustrator Stephen Gilpin to tell it again. It is a hilarious story as long as you're ready to meet a late-night reading cat, Chester; a rather skeptical dog, Harold; and the newest pet, a rabbit, who sleeps all day but makes vegetables white at night. He's been named "Bunnicula"! The Monroe family, Mr. and Mrs., Toby and Pete, have their parts in the story but they never really know what's going on behind their backs or when they sleep. Harold knows nearly all or can guess what Chester, a very determined cat, is up to. Harold tells this fantastic and silly story. I hope kids will meet them all and love the story as my daughter did years ago.
July 3, 2022
James and Deborah Howe’s Bunnicula was released in 1979 (with many new editions/covers after) and has made many readers chuckle as family dog Harold and brilliant, but paranoid Chester the cat tried to puzzle out the whole Dracula as a bunny situation. This graphic novel will yield something closer to belly laughs. James Howe combines his own adaptation of the traditional format Bunnicula with terrific graphic panels (with outstanding facial expression on human and animal characters) by Stephen Gilpin to create a truly funny book that should impress even some of the most anti-graphic novel teachers out there. All the elements of plot are there and plenty of opportunity for character study and examples of literary elements including hyperbole, simile, alliteration and more. Kids won’t care about any of that and will just love reading it and may move on to the traditional format version. Older readers and adults who enjoyed the original Bunnicula should enjoy this one every bit as much…and maybe more, because Chester (who was my favorite character in the original) is hysterical! No profanity, sexual content (unless you count the comment about Mrs. Monroe being seen biting Mr. Monroe’s neck once which was in the 2006 book, too), and the violence is mostly imposed on vegetables.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Thanks for the print arc, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
October 3, 2022
This was everything that I hoped it would be. I love the story of Bunnicula and this book brings it even more to life with its colorful, hilarious illustrations. I loved the art style of the illustrations and felt it matched the story perfectly. I’d forgotten some of the humor in the original and found myself laughing here and there.
A great way to introduce new readers to Bunnicula or for fans of the original to enjoy in a different way. I hope they’ll do the other books!
A great way to introduce new readers to Bunnicula or for fans of the original to enjoy in a different way. I hope they’ll do the other books!
October 2, 2024
After the Monroe family gives Dad a present, a seemingly cute rabbit, after going out to the theatre to watch the film Dracula, things ubruptly change for their household pets, Harold their Dog and Chester their Cat.
They decide to name the bunny Bunicula, after the vampire film.
Soon, Bunnicula is wandering the household only late at night. Bizarre events unfold, leading Chester to research the vampiric happenings, while Harold is not so convinced.
A truly funny and unsettling tale, written and told by Harold, because, well, Harold is a dog that can write. Chester on the other hand is a voracious reader that knows better.
Great story for all ages by Gilpin and Howe. Marvelous illustrations by Donkin.
They decide to name the bunny Bunicula, after the vampire film.
Soon, Bunnicula is wandering the household only late at night. Bizarre events unfold, leading Chester to research the vampiric happenings, while Harold is not so convinced.
A truly funny and unsettling tale, written and told by Harold, because, well, Harold is a dog that can write. Chester on the other hand is a voracious reader that knows better.
Great story for all ages by Gilpin and Howe. Marvelous illustrations by Donkin.
November 16, 2024
HELP, this was so good. I genuinely feel like Bunnicula is probably one of the best books I’ve ever read but this absolute genius of the illustrations in this graphic novel version elevate it so much it hurts. The ASIDES with their cue cards had me weak. Will never get over the cat therapist asking, “How are you, feline?” I hope my 10.5 year old niece loves this now or in the future as much as I love it myself. I’m gonna buy myself a copy because I’m fully obsessed with this.
February 5, 2024
so I'm not usually a graphic novel person, but I just HAD TO read this!!! I loved this series as a kid and reread Return to Howlday Inn so many times I think I finally had to throw away the book. I was trying very hard not to laugh out loud as I was reading this in the library! The pictures were exactly what I used to picture in my mind while reading the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 244 reviews