Bunnicula and Homonyms Illustrated Free PDF

Bunnicula is full of homonyms which inspired this post.

*Editor’s note: Wise Owl Factory presents a post by I. Reid today. I. Reid will not be posting often, but when she does, it will be one of the most interesting posts in the world.

Dear Reader,

As I write, the wind rattles through bare branches and white rims the morning grass. Frosty mornings and warm days can mean only one thing. Halloween is on its way.

Halloween brings along things such as questionable costumes and an overload of sugar, but it can also bring along more wholesome entertainment. One such paragon is Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery by Debra and James Howe.

Bunnicula is as its name suggests a rather clever mystery that pokes fun at the classic Dracula (which is not child appropriate). Narrated by Harold, the family dog, he seeks to unravel the cipher that is Bunnicula. Is the little rabbit a vampire rabbit, the most menacing threat to vegetables to ever walk the face of this earth, or is the poor creature merely unusual and persecuted for being different?

Children will be so entertained by the light hearted yet serious tone and the antics of the main characters they won’t realize that they are learning a few important lessons.

The reader must use skills of deduction to determine the cause of several mysteries. Why are the vegetables turning white? What could cause two little holes to be found in each white vegetable? Is it indeed a strange vegetable blight or is it something more sinister?

Next, homonyms play a pivotal role in the story. It would be unkind of me, Dear Reader, to reveal too much but let me delicately state when one of the characters determines to deal decisively with the perceived threat facing the Monroes, a misteak is made. I mean mistake, please forgive a slip of my fingers.

Any good story has no less than three good lessons to teach us, Dear Reader. Bunnicula is no exception. The last lesson is one of morality. This fascinating story provides an excellent opportunity for you to teach why jumping to conclusions and excluding those who are different is not something nice to do.

Even though the entire series has titles such as The Celery Stalks at Midnight and Howl-iday Inn, the only howling your young ones will be doing is that of laughter. Unless of course they decide to imitate the dogs, which that, Dear Reader, is an entirely different story.

Yours in profound solemnity,

I. Reid

P.S. If you have a dog and the children ask for chocolate cupcakes, please use this opportunity to teach them chocolate is toxic to dogs.

Wise Owl Factory, being inspired by i-Reid’s post and the pivotal role of homonyms in Bunnicula, has made this freebie for elementary education: FREE HOMONYM MATCHING CARDS.

Thank you for reading!

You might also like other posts by i-Reid.

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The beauty of the prairie and the loveliness of the area inspired the main author, I. Reid. Faulkton is an example of a city that refused to simply exist (and perhaps become obsolete) and turned to its arts council for ideas.

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What is a mother? A mother is the same whether children are adopted or biological. In this story, the child has been adopted. It is written from the viewpoint of the child to help explain mother is the same in any family. Mom helps check under the bed for monsters, reads books, and watches movies with the girl. She does the same things every mother does. Visually, the images show a white mother and an Asian daughter. The main author, I-Reid, has previously written blog posts for this blog, and now she has written her first children’s picture book.