About the Author

James Howe is the author of more than ninety books for young readers. Bunnicula, coauthored by his late wife Deborah and published in 1979, is considered a modern classic of children's literature. The author has written six highly popular sequels, along with the spinoff series Tales from the House of Bunnicula and Bunnicula and Friends. Among his other books are picture books such as Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores and beginning reader series that include the Pinky and Rex and Houndsley and Catina books. He has also written for older readers. The Misfits, published in 2001, inspired the nationwide antibullying initiative No Name-Calling Week, as well as three sequels, Totally Joe, Addie on the Inside, and Also Known as Elvis. A common theme in James Howe's books from preschool through teens is the acceptance of difference and being true to oneself. Visit him online at JamesHowe.com.

Reviews

There's nothing like a series to keep kids turning pages. Bunnicula's family is back, and Uncle Harold steps aside to let Howie, the family dachshund, tell all in It Came from Beneath the Bed!, the first in the Tales from the House of Bunnicula series by James Howe, illus. by Brett Helquist. The inaugural adventure finds the doggy fighting off a marauding stuffed animal culled from the clutter. In Book 2, Invasion of the Mind Swappers from Asteroid 6!, Howie must save Delilah from aliens and thwart their plan to take over the planet. With Helquist's illustrations and a tongue-in-cheek note to readers on the back of the book, the unjacketed hardcovers bear a strong resemblance to Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events. For Beach Reading... Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Gr 3-6-Here, Howie writes a story in which his friend Delilah is being turned into a squirrel by aliens from another planet. In alternating chapters, he talks to readers about his writing process, his inspirations for ideas, and his editor's request that he write another book. These entries are delightful. Howie is constantly complaining about his difficulties in writing the book and developing Delilah's character. The story-within-a-story is secondary to the pup's journal. This book is lighthearted fun, illustrated with humorous black-and-white drawings of Howie's and Delilah's experiences.-Wendy S. Carroll, Grant Elementary School, Ridgefield Park, NJ Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.