Acerca del autor

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.

Jeff Mack has written and illustrated a long list of award-winning picture books, chapter books, and early readers, including the Clueless McGee series; the Mr. Monkey series; Good News, Bad News; Hush Little Polar Bear; Duck in the Fridge; Look!; and Dog Gets a Pet. He lives, works, and sometimes monkeys around in western Massachusetts. Visit him at JeffMack.com.

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Scared Silly

Aladdin Paperbacks

Chapter One: Spooky Halloween

Halloween is always spooky at our house.There are grinning pumpkins and scary costumes and tricky tricks and yummy treats.

Of course the treats are my favorite part.

Especially the chocolate ones.

I live with the Monroes -- Toby, Pete, and Mr. and Mrs. Monroe. They are human, but I don't hold that against them.Chester lives here too. He's a cat. Enough said.Howie is a puppy, and Bunnicula is a rabbit.Rabbits don't usually do much.Hop around. Wiggle their whiskers. Look cute.

The thing is, Bunnicula is no ordinary rabbit, but more about him later.

As I was saying, Halloween can be spooky around here.

But this year things were even spookier than usual.It all started when the Monroes left us alone.

"Where have they gone this time?" Howie whimpered.

He hates to be left alone.

"I think they said something about a costume party," I said with a yawn.

"I guess they have better things to do than sleep," Chester said.

I yawned again. "What could be better than sleep? Except eating, of course."

"Harold, you should really try to stay awake," Chester said.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because it's a dark and stormy night!" Chester cried.

"So?"

"So, don't you remember what happened on that other dark and stormy night?" Chester demanded.

I thought about it for a minute.

"Lightning?"

Chester nodded.

"Thunder?"

Chester nodded again.

"In that case, I was definitely under the covers -- asleep!"

"No, you weren't," Chester said. "You were standing right beside me when they brought that monster home."

"M-m-m-monster?" Howie asked.

"He means Bunnicula." I sighed.

Chester blames Bunnicula for all the strange things that go on around here. And believe me, a lot of strange things go on around here.

"That rabbit is up to something,

I just know it," Chester said.

We all turned to look at Bunnicula.

He was sitting in his cage, wide awake.

Bunnicula is awake only at night.

Chester says it's because he's a vampire bunny.

I don't argue with Chester. It's bad for my health.

"I have a plan," Chester said.

"No! No plans!" I cried.

Chester's plans are really bad for my health.

"This plan is simple. Nothing to it," Chester said. "All you have to do is sit here and keep an eye on Bunnicula."

"Why?" I groaned.

"Because it's Halloween!" Chester cried. "Who knows what vampire bunnies get up to on Halloween?"

Text copyright © 1989, 2005 by James Howe

Continues...

Excerpted from Scared Sillyby James Howe Copyright © 2006 by James Howe. Excerpted by permission.
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