Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale of Mystery — “Bunnicula and Friends” Series

Harold the dog, this tale’s writer and narrator, lives with a family of four and a cat named Chester. He calls the family “the Monroes” to protect their identities. Mr. Monroe, a college professor, and Mrs. Monroe, a lawyer, have two boys named Pete and Toby. Like Mr. and Mrs. Monroe, Chester is intelligent. He reads every night and arrogantly shares his wealth of information with Harold.

The Monroes return from the movies one night with a bundle. The pets learn Toby found a small rabbit in his seat at a showing of Dracula. The family names it Bunnicula. Soon afterward, the Monroes begin finding white vegetables in the fridge, as though the color was sucked out of them.

Chester, a suspicious horror story enthusiast, spies on Bunnicula. He tells Harold that the bunny sleeps all day and breaks out of his cage at night. He also notes the rabbit has odd markings on his back, like a cape, and fangs where buckteeth should be.

Chester becomes convinced Bunnicula is a vampire. He shares his vampire research with Harold and insists they stop the bunny before it hurts the family. Chester spreads garlic around the room and tries to pound a steak (the edible kind) through the bunny’s heart.

The family wonders at Chester’s erratic behavior as he attempts to warn them about the new pet. After several days, Harold notices Bunnicula looks sick. He discovers Chester is starving the bunny, and he makes plans to feed Bunnicula while Chester sleeps. He carries the weak rabbit to the family’s dinner salad, already on the table.

Chester sees this and leaps in the salad after Bunnicula. The Monroes find the pets in a tangle and take them all to the vet to learn why they’re behaving so strangely. The doctor prescribes cat psychotherapy for Chester and a liquid diet to restore Bunnicula’s health. Harold and Bunnicula become buddies, and Chester frequently rambles on about emotions and self-awareness based on his therapy.