Bunnicula and Friends: The Fright before Christmas by James Howe - ESSENTIAL

Howe, James.  Bunnicula and Friends: The Fright before Christmas, illustrated by Jeff mack.  Aladdin Paperbacks (Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing Division), 2006 (the text was originally published in 1988). $3.99.  PICTURE BOOK.  This is a Level 3 book in the Ready-To-Read early reader book series.  This is book is written in the first person and is told through Harold's eyes.  In it, we find out that it is Christmas Eve and Howie is afraid of Christmas.  When Harold asks Chester why he thinks that is, Chester explains that it must certainly be because of the ghosts.  When Harold says there are no ghosts in Christmas, Chester reminds him of the story read the previous night (the one with three ghostly visitors to a stingy old man).  Then, later that night, Chester wakes Harold up and says that he has heard some sounds.  They go to investigate.  This really was a delightful book.  My son read it to us over a few nights, and we couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.  It reminded me that my teacher had read the original Bunnicula to my third-grade class many years ago.  This book is #5 in the Bunnicula and Friends series, and I am interested in having my son read more to us.  I think it is definitely worth the $4.  They are great characters.  Pre-K, EL(K-3) - ESSENTIAL.  Brent Smith, Reading Teacher