Howie Monroe and the Doghouse of Doom (Tales From the House of Bunnicula)
Who'd've thunk J.K. Rowling's work would be parodied by a clever,  wire-haired dachshund pup? Fortunately, that's no indignity, seeing as we're  talking about none other than Howie Monroe, the budding canine author of other  Tales from the House of Bunnicula.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 aparody!") Just as inIt 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."(Ages 9 to 12)--Paul Hughes--This text refers to theHardcoveredition.