Module 2: The Celery Stalks at Midnight

Bibliography:

Howe, J. (1983). The celery stalks at midnight. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. 

Book Summary:

In this hilarious chapter of Bunnicula series, Chester the cat, Howie the puppy, and Harold the dog team up to fight an army of zombie vegetables. Bunnicula the veggie vampire rabbit is missing again, so gang fears that the victims are part of a zombie army. The animals try to keep the vegetable zombie army from taking over town and  arm themselves with toothpick. They encounter suspicious, strange clues that point towards vampire slaves. I won't ruin the ending for you, so pick it up and read the third installment in the Bunnicula series.

My Thoughts:

I remember reading Bunnicula when I was younger, but for some reason or another I never picked up another book in the series. After reading The Celery Stalks at Midnight, I found myself wishing that I had read it sooner. Books in which animals are the main characters are among my favorites, probably because I appreciate the thought that a cat and two dogs can talk to each other. I think this book would be great to use in the fall, closer to Halloween so that kids can enjoy a funny zombie story rather than a scary one.

Professional Reviews:

*"When readers hear about dead beets, killer parsnips and homicidal heads of lettuce lurking in the neighborhood, they won't think it's a vegetable war—they'll know that Bunnicula, the vampire(?) rabbit has returned. . . . The amusing and skillful black-and-white sketches capture the animals' antics and expressions of alternating doubt, skepticism, disgust and worry in this clever tale abounding with puns, wild chases and slapstick humor. Bunnicula (1979) fans will be delighted to rejoin cynical Chester, Howie, a dachshund puppy and the canine narrator Harold, who, at the end, becomes apprehensive for even he admits he hears the thump thump thump of an artichoke heart."

Jones, T. (1983). [Review of the book The celery stalks at midnight by James Howe]. School Library Journal, 30124.

*"The sequel to Bunnicula and Howliday Inn is another startling tongue-in-cheek exposé. Composed in a light-hearted, lively style, the narrative moves briskly from one outrageous pun to another—a technique guaranteed to win the hearts of humorists as they follow the exploits of Chester, the cat, while he tries to defend his territory from a danger only he is astute enough to recognize—or so he thinks. . . . With his two canine companions—Harold, the narrator, and Howie, a naive dachshund—Chester sets forth to locate Bunnicula and to save the victims. Their route is marked by mishaps, misunderstandings, and misadventures as the trio incursthe wrath of a coddled feline, tours the town dump, and invades the school carnival. Kaleidoscopic action, broad comedy, and appealing format suggest the book as an answer to the need for well-crafted escapist reading."

Burns, M. M. (1983). [Review of the book The celery stalks at midnight by James Howe]. Horn Book Magazine, 59709.

Suggested Activities:

This book would be perfect for a zombie themed activity for Halloween. A flannel board with the main characters and a white veggie zombie army could be used to help tell the story.

Image link:
 http://images.betterworldbooks.com/038/The-Celery-Stalks-at-Midnight-9780380690541.jpg