Most Popular Books by James Howe

Harold the dog and his fellow pets, Howie and Chester, stand guard over Mr. Monroe, who''s made of chocolate fudge. But when they fall asleep, the fudge suddenly turns white and disappears altogether. Has Bunnicula the vampire bunny struck again? Full color.

In their fifth adventure, the Monroe family pets are once again boarded at the Chateau Bow-Bow when the Monroes go on vacation. The kennel''s creepy goings-on continue, but this time it appears that murder may have been added to the services. Illustrations.

Harold the dog tells the story of what happened to the Monroe household after the rabbit Bunnicula arrived.

Despite her size and not having the proper footwear, a determined dinosaur pursues her dream of becoming a ballerina.

Joe Bunch breaks down his life—and his secrets—for a school assignment in this second book of the funny, heartfelt, and beloved Misfits series by Bunnicula author James Howe. What can I say? I’m a total original. Joe may only be twelve-going-on-thirteen, but he’s known who he is from the time he was a little kid tottering around in his mother’s high heels. Now in the seventh grade, he wears green high tops with pink trim, has a (secret) boyfriend, and tells it all from A to Z in the alphabiography assigned by his favorite teacher. The thing is, some of it is seriously private. It’s one thing for Mr. Daly to read it, but what if it falls into the wrong hands? Will he be teased forever about those high heels…and even worse, what will happen if his secret boyfriend is no longer a secret?

Howie the dog is afraid of Santa Claus and believes ghosts are haunting Christmas.

This critically acclaimed book has been thoroughly updated and reillustrated with all-new photographs. "An excellent book for introducing the kindergarten experience."--Booklist. "For all those normal fears and questions, this book has the answers, and gets them right."--Publishers Weekly.

A SMALL BEAR WITH BIG ADVENTURES It''s a boring, rainy afternoon -- the perfect time for Teddy Bear to share his scrapbook of memories with the little girls who owns him. And what memories Teddy Bear has! He''s ridden a bucking bronco in the rodeo, been an ace crime reporter -- he''s even starred in a movie! No wonder he''s a bit worn and shabby. For an ordinary little girl with flat brown hair, it''s hard to imagine being important to someone with Teddy''s glamorous past. But there''s always room in Teddy''s life -- and his scrapbook -- for someone who loves him just the way he is.

As she sits watching a seemingly perfect family and a handsome lifeguard on the beach, a lonely, troubled girl projects herself into the fantasy lives she has created for them.

Dear possible reader of this book, I want to be a writer, just like my uncle Harold, who wrote a bunch of books about our friend Bunnicula. So I wrote this story. And boy! Did I ever get into trouble! My friend Delilah stopped speaking to me because I put her in my book. Uncle Harold stopped speaking to me because I didn’t put him in my book. A writer’s life isn’t easy! But back to my story: It’s about how a talented and lovable (not to mention smart) wirehaired dachshund puppy named Howie saves the world from a disgusting, evil menace named...oops, that would give away the story. But trust me, this menace is disgusting and evil, all right!!! Your friend, Howie

Chester the cat is more than ever convinced that Bunnicula is a vampire when there is a harvest of white vegetables on the morning after the night that Bunnicula was probably wandering through the neighborhood.

Sticks and stones may break our bones, but names will break our spirit.

Rex and her best friend Pinky, each the proud possessor of twenty-seven stuffed animals or dinosaurs, find their visit to the museum and its gift shop complicated by Pinky''s little sister Amanda.

When Bunnicula acts strangely, the Monroe dogs and cat renew their suspicions that he is a vampire. Captivating b&w illustrations keep readers on the edge wondering what will happen next.

This wry tale of two brothers who amiably try to outdo each other by creating jumbo-size imaginary friends makes a great read-aloud and is a follow-up to There’s a Monster Under My Bed.

Harold, Chester, and Howie have a harrowing Halloween night worrying about Bunnicula as well as about a witch who comes into the house.

When eleven-year-old Maria must go to the hospital for open-heart surgery, she finds strength in her friendship with a badly scarred burn victim.

Houndsley and Catina run into trouble when they decide to prove that they are the best at cooking and writing, respectively.

When Otter falls in love with his food source, a fish named Myrtle, he must decide whether to follow the way of the otter or the way of his heart.

Pinky''s family is getting a pet! The problem is, by a three to one vote, they''ve decided to get a cat, and Pinky wants a dog. And when they get a kitten, Pinky''s sister, Amanda, says that Patches is hers. Why should Pinky care? He didn''t want a cat in the first place. But Patches may have her own ideas about whose cat she is.

When scary strangers appear at the Monroes'' overnight campsite, Chester the cat tries to convince the family''s two dogs that foul play is intended.

Dear possible reader of this book, My editor asked me to write a third book in my series, Tales from the House of Bunnicula. And did I have trouble getting started! I was afraid I used up all my ideas. But faster than a writer can say “What if?” I came up with a story! It’s about a lovable and smart (not to mention cute) orphan wirehaired dachshund puppy named Howie, who has a mysterious pain in his leg and is mysteriously invited to attend the Dogwiz Academy for Canine Conjurers. Together, Howie and his best friend, the very, very, very smart Delilah, who speaks in a British accent in this book for some reason, discover they must fight a sinister foe…The-Evil-Force-Whose-Nam-C’not-Be-Spoke!!! Your friend, Howie

Skeezie Tookis navigates a pivotal summer of first crushes and tough choices in this conclusion to the bestselling and acclaimed quartet that began with The Misfits. Skeezie Tookis, also known as Elvis, isn''t looking forward to this summer in Paintbrush Falls. While his best friends Bobby, Joe, and Addie are off on exciting adventures, he''s stuck at home, taking care of his sisters and working five days a week to help out his mom. True, he gets to hang out at the Candy Kitchen with the awesome HellomynameisSteffi, but he also has to contend with Kevin Hennessey''s never-ending bullying. And then there''s the confusing world of girls, especially hot-and-cold Becca, his maybe-crush. And the dog that he misses terribly. And the dad who left two years before, whom Skeezie is convinced is the cause of all his troubles. In the words of the King, Skeezie Tookis is All Shook Up. Skeezie''s got the leather jacket of a tough guy, but a heart of gold--and his story, the fourth and final chapter of the beloved Misfits series, is brimming with life''s tough choices, love in all directions, and enough sweet potato fries to go around.

"When I was new, my grandpa was very old." When Emily was two, her grandpa sang songs to her. When she was four, he read her stories. When Emily is five, her beloved grandfather dies. Her family decides to remember him in two ways: with a Christian funeral, because Grandpa was Christian, and a Jewish service, because Emily''s family is Jewish. Both ways are beautiful. But Emily finds a way of remembering her grandpa that is just as beautiful and meaningful...and that''s all her own. In this tender story for all families a young girl learns how to say goodbye to her grandpa without letting go of his memory.

Young sleuth Sebastian and three friends probe the mystery of a poisoning in their school cafeteria.

Contests-Fiction.

Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire.

When the Chelsea Park Zoo is about to close, Morgan, the desolate animal keeper, receives help from a television newscaster to keep it open--and from the animals themselves.

Pinky learns the importance of identity as he defends his favorite color, pink, and his friendship with a girl, Rex, from the neighborhood bully.

A class''s new teacher, who leads the children in a number of very popular activities, turns out to be a gorilla.

Dear Reader, The guy who usually writes these letters asked me to do it instead. Maybe he was having a bad writing day. Maybe he wanted me to play the sap for him. Or maybe he ran into Trouble with a capital T. Well, Trouble’s in my business. I’m a dog. I’m a detective. The name’s Bud Barkin. And this book is about the case I had involving a dame named Delilah Gorbish, whom I would call Trouble with a capital T except I’ve used that metaphor already, and the clown named Crusty Carmady whose calling card is a teakettle that he heaves through windows. Nice pair of birds. The mystery deepens with another character called the Big Fish, who isn’t really a fish and who’s addicted to the Home Shopping Network. Hey, I don’t write ’em—I just solve ’em. Yours truly, Bud Barkin, P.E.

Horace, Morris, and Dolores do everything together and know that they will be Friends Forever...until one day, when Horace and Morris become part of an exclusive boys'' club and Dolores finds herself left out. Soon, she, too, finds her own club, where no boys are allowed and girls are supposed to have fun doing girl stuff. But after a while, Horace and Morris and Dolores realize they aren''t happy at all doing what everyone in their clubs seems to enjoy. They miss each other. Is it too late to be friends again? Join these three charming mouse friends as they learn to do what they like, rather than what others say they should like.

Horace and Morris, but mostly Dolores, are back again for another uproarious adventure. When the three best friends decide to try out for the school chorus together, they''re shocked when Dolores (who can only sing notes that no one has ever heard before) is the only one who doesn''t make the cut. After all, they''ve always done everything together. Once Horace and Morris start chorus practice, they''re so busy that they don''t have time to go exploring or climb trees with Dolores anymore. Feeling left out and alone, Dolores decides to take matters into her own hands. But can she prove to Moustro Provolone that there''s a place for every kind of voice in the chorus?