44 pages 1 hour read

Deborah Howe, James Howe

Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1979

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Editor’s Note-Chapter 1Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Editor’s Note Summary

A fictional editor introduces the story by saying that they first learned of the Bunnicula tale when a dog appeared in their office and dropped “the manuscript of the book you now hold in your holds” (1). The dog is Harold, the main viewpoint character, and he also leaves a note for the editor that says he hopes they will consider publishing his story about a strange thing that happened to his otherwise “typical American family” (2).

Chapter 1 Summary: “The Arrival”

Harold is the main character of story and the Monroe family’s dog. He introduces the story by recalling the moment when Bunnicula first arrived. His owners went to a Dracula movie, and they returned with a “tiny black and white rabbit” they found in the theater (8). The two boys, Pete and Toby, fight over who gets to name the bunny. Mrs. Monroe ends the fight by recommending the name Bunnicula, which is an instant hit.

Editor’s Note-Chapter 1 Analysis

The Editor’s Note is meant to establish a sense of authenticity to the story. The fictional editor claims that Harold the dog brought the