Howie Monroe and the Doghouse of Doom (Tales from the House of Bunnicula (Numbered PB)) - Hardcover

Bunnicula fans already know (and likely love) Howie, and it's a treat to watch him sink his teeth into the first Harry Potter book. (Although, admittedly, Howie doesn't see it that way: "This is a serious work of fiction!!!! I can't believe my editor would call it a parody!") Just as in It Came from Beneath the Bed!, this installment alternates between entries in Howie's writing journal (complete with authorial advice from his Uncle Harold) and chapters in the story that Howie's writing about a lovable, plucky, wire-haired dachshund named Howie. Howie (the plucky character) leaves home to attend the Dogwiz Academy for Canine Conjurers, and that's just the beginning of his uncanny resemblance to that other young wizard. In his quest to enter the Doghouse of Doom and face "The-Evil-Force-Whose-Name-C'not-Be-Spoke (a.k.a. Herbert)," Howie must release the Seven-Headed Schnauzer, crawl through the Tunnel of Terrible Things, and face all sorts of other perils. ("Would he ever again return to Centreville? Would he ever again sleep under Pete's bed? Would he ever again get to use the words 'ever again' in a sentence?")

As Howie (the aspiring author) sagely observes at one point, "This writing business involves way too much thinking." But kids will appreciate the effort and the tale--and might even learn a thing or two themselves about creating and structuring stories. Which, presumably, is exactly what Uncle Harold hopes for his nephew:

"Well, Howie, the big question a writer has to ask himself is--"

"When do I get paid?"

"That wasn't what I was going to say."