Move over, Twilight. Here comes a character that combines the cuteness of Edward with the furriness of Jacob. Discovered in a shoe box outside of a movie theater by the Monroe family, Bunnicula the bunny gets his name from that evening’s featured film, Dracula. Bunnicula seems innocent enough at first, but the Monroe’s cat, Chester, develops his own suspicions. He tries to convince Harold the dog of Bunnicula’s devilish plot: “Today vegetables, tomorrow the world!” Aside from the rabbit’s fang-like teeth and the ghostly white veggies the pets find in the fridge, there’s the fact that Bunnicula seems to disappear and then reappear in his cage – without ever opening the door. Are the Monroes in grave danger? Is the villainous vampire rabbit really out for world domination? Or is he just a misunderstood baby bunny? Read Bunnicula (along with the six hilarious sequels and several spin-offs) and make your own judgment call.
Sideway Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
reviewed by Ms. Horne
You might sometimes think your school is backwards, but what would happen if it was sideways? Find out from the kids that attend Wayside School, a school meant to be one-story with 30 classrooms, but instead was mistakenly built 30 stories straight up! Sideways Stories from Wayside School is a tangle of 30 tales, each chapter revolving around a particular student or teacher. Meet the evil Mrs. Gorf, notorious for turning naughty students into apples; recess-obsessed Deedee, who disguises herself as a dead rat to get thrown out of class in order to get the best ball on the playground; motorcyclist Jenny, who’s always late for school and hiding under her helmet; and the mysterious Miss Zarves, teacher on the nonexistent 19th floor. The colorful characters and bizarre occurrences will keep you entertained for hours on end. If you like what you read, stack your bookshelf with several sequels: Wayside School is Falling Down and Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger.