Howliday Inn

by James Howe

Other authorsLynn Munsinger (Illustrator)

Paper Book, 1982

Status

Available

Collection

Chapter Books

Description

While their family is away, Harold and Chester, a dog and a cat, are boarded at Chateau Bow-Wow where Chester becomes increasingly alarmed by the strange behavior of his fellow guests and the sudden disappearance of one of them.

Media reviews

School Library Journal

Newcomers to the series and fans of the Bunnicula books as well will enjoy.

Series

Bunnicula (2)

Subjects

Cats Fiction

Dogs fiction

Mystery and detective stories

User reviews

LibraryThing member LeslitGS

Howliday Inn features Chester and Harold, the cat and author--dog--of Bunnicula. This time, instead of being introduced to a theoretically vampiric pet bunny, the boys are off to Chateau Bow-Wow while the family goes on a vacation. Once as comfortable as can be expected in their bungalows [which

look remarkably similar to cages], they are introduced to the eclectic collection of other animals staying with them. With suspicious howlings in the night and a dog that goes missing after some compound drama, Chester's mind is alive with possibilities and detective impulses. The boys must figure out the goings on [going ons?] of the dubiously titled Chateau Bow-Wow before something terrible befalls one of the guests--or themselves.

I honestly don't have too much to say here. Howe is a rather delightful author, or as he would have us believe, Harold is, and the books are great fun to read. From Harold's no-nonsense doggie ways to Chesters insane imagination and feline indignance, the characters are charming and the antics hilarious. I'm sure I'll be reading the other three Howe books because they only take a sitting, and after an eight-hour day of making sure manic mothers manage to make Mayan mystics properly [clay, popcicle sticks and paint all on a lovely foam-core base or shoebox], something as light and perpetually enjoyable is called for. Truly.

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LibraryThing member herebedragons

#53, 2007
#6, 2006

The second in the "Bunnicula" series for children. This time, Harold and Chester (the Monroe family's loyal dog and cat) are boarded at Chateau Bow-Wow while the family takes a week's vacation. After their first night at the Chateau, Chester is convinced that there are strange

things afoot - including a pair of werewolves in residence! When other inmates guests of the Chateau begin disappearing, Chester and Harold begin investigating what they're sure is some sort of dastardly crime until the unthinkable happens, and Harold finds himself alone on the case! C and I read this book aloud at bedtime over the past few weeks, although we'd already heard most of it as an audiobook on some car trip or another last year. I really like these books - the characters are fun, and they're humorous for both children and adults. Also, I particularly enjoyed reading this one aloud, and getting to do voices for all the characters. I'm looking forward to reading more in the series - we'll be starting "The Celery Stalks at Midnight" as soon as we finish the Goosebumps book we started a few days ago. Part of C's personal collection - I'm sure he'll want to read this one again.

LJ Discussion

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LibraryThing member Carol420

I really hope these books never end. My little friend, Jessica was always a reader, but this series has really got her READING! I don't think she has turned the television on since she started with the firs book. Not that I have anything against television...just saying. We've set a time that she

can read to me, and I am thoroughly enjoying these cute little characters and that Jessica is asking, "Can I go ahead and read the next chapter?" You know when a book begins with a dog named Harold scratching on the door to leave a manuscript in plastic...then stays long enough to have a doughnut and hot chocolate, that you are in for a hilarious adventure. With this in mind, we begin the hair-raising and laughter filled journey of Harold and his cat friend, Chester, at the Chateau Bow-Wow. There's not much horror in this one, it goes straight to the "mystery". Chester and Harold both take turns at being detectives trying to figure out what happened to the missing pets. Chester makes a lot of wild accusations that were mostly all wrong, in the first book. but in this one he seems to be more on top of the game with his detective work, though he does still make a few wild accusations, claiming he knew what was going on the whole time at the end. Was Chester just saying he knew, or did he actually know? It is kind of left up to the reader to decide. Jessica has her own ideas but she's not sharing them with me yet.

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LibraryThing member adventures

I really,really like this book. This is my second time reading it. I read it a long time ago, but had forgotten what had happend. So I re read it. If you like mysteries you definately need to read this book. It's NOT one of those mysteries were you know right away what happens. There are different

twists and turns. I love the characters. Especially Harold. They are all funny, I can't wait to read more of this series. =)

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LibraryThing member benuathanasia

It was an interesting little mystery, but some of it was written very awkwardly so it was difficult to figure out what was going on, who was talking to who, etc.

LibraryThing member Othemts

To build on my belief that this series should be called "The Harold and Chester Mysteries," Bunnicula doesn't even appear in this story. Instead, the Monroe's go on vacation and Harold and Chester are sent to a kennel called Chateau Bow-Bow. There, Chester immediately begins to share his suspicions

of the other dogs and cats and their human caretakers. It turns out that there is something suspicious going on even if Chester's earliest assumptions were way off base, but it does lead up to a wonderful Holmes and Watson moment for Chester and Harold. Another fun book with a bit of mystery.

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LibraryThing member alegritachild

Great read-aloud.

LibraryThing member SumisBooks

Cute little kid's murder mystery story. Not as good as the first book of course, but enjoyable.

LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz

Looks like Harold, the dog, and Chester,the cat, are going to spend the week at Chateau Bow-Wow while their human family are off on vacation. Not what they were expecting! Nor were they expecting the adventure they had!

Arriving at Chateau Bow-Wow, Harold and Chester meet their fellow borders:

Louise - a French poodle, Max - a turtle-neck wearing bulldog, Georgette - a dog (these three are part of a triangle...maybe), Taxi - a mutt of a dog, Lyle - a wacky cat, and Howard and Heather - a pair of dachshunds. There are also the humans that are there to take care of the critters; Harrison and Jill.

The weather is stormy and rainy, complete with thunder and lightning; perfect backdrop for what happens! There is also that eerie howling that is heard and is later found to be Howard and Heather. Why the howling?

It seems that the next morning Louise is missing! Rumours go around that she has run off, or poisoned, or.... Then Chester is missing! Harold is pretty sure he hasn't run off, but was he poisoned? The animals decide they must find their missing friends.

There is a lot of humour in this and it is good fun kid stuff. There are also illustrations to go with the story.

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