Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Headed by Chester the cat and Harold the dog, the Bunnicula gang returns in fine form in one of Howe's characteristically antic adventures. This time, Toby's birthday has arrived and the household pets are relegated to the cellar, to keep them away from a mysterious ``special'' present that consists of seven suitcases with a creature inside each. Demonstrating his powers of deduction (as celebrated as they are convoluted), Chester determines that Toby's parents have procured seven new pets and that Chester and company have, alas, become obsolete. While Bunnicula maintains his usual silence, Chester inveigles Harold and Howie the dachshund puppy into a hare-brained plot to convince Toby's family that they are pets without peer--and they succeed, although perhaps not as Chester intended. Throughout, Howe's lighthearted narrative balances humor with suspense, while the unusual clarity of Morrill's illustrations neatly contains the animals' chaotic capers. One can only wish for many happy returns. Ages 5-up . (Aug.)

Horn Book

Harold, Chester, and Howie, Toby's pets, are up to their old tricks in this new adventure. Their discovery of Toby's birthday surprise, Mr. Hu and his creepy-crawly pets, is an exciting and zany event. The illustrations provide priceless expressions, action, and laughs.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-- Harold the dog returns for more mischief-making with his friends Chester the cat and Howie, a dachshund puppy. While Toby's birthday party is in progress, the pets overhear him and his mother discussing his secret present, and their curiosity is aroused. When they discover several mysterious cases containing animals, Chester fears that Toby is receiving seven new pets. They decide to release the creatures; when an iguana, snake, frog, hedgehog, bird, and rat come charging out of their cases, Chester, Harold and Howie go flying, disrupting the party and sending the guests stampeding through the door. And then Harold reads the sign on the side of the van parked on the curb: ``Hu's Zoo, Unusual Animals for All Occasions.'' The real surprise, it turns out, is Toby's new clubhouse. Long popular in picture-book and chapter format, this latest story about the Munroe family should prove entertaining for fans and newcomers to the series. Harold's narration provides a humorous perspective on the day's events, and Morrill captures the chaos with energetic full-color illustrations. --Pearl Herscovitch, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada

ALA Booklist

Toby's birthday party takes a surprising turn when Harold the dog, Chester the cat, and Howie the dachshund puppy release seven creepy-crawlies that they believe are Toby's new pets. At the same time, Mr. Hu the animal trainer arrives to perform for the party. Six of the seven animals are rounded up, and the show goes on. The pets' position in the household is reaffirmed, but the seventh creepy-crawly is still at large (indicating a sequel?). Morrill, who has illustrated many of the well-loved Bunnicula books, maintains the pets' perspective in the warm and spirited pictures. An entertaining, reassuring tale with a note explaining birthday party entertainment in which trained animal handlers demonstrate their creatures in a way that is both educational and enjoyable. (Reviewed Nov. 15, 1991)