RABBIT-CADABRA!
by James Howe & illustrated by Alan Daniel
When Harold and pals Chester and Howie see the poster for ``The Amazing Karlovsky,'' who's to perform at the local school, they're alarmed: That's Bunnicula he's pulling out of a hat—will the world be overrun with vampire rabbits? After scavenging a dumpster for garlic, they dash to school (aromatic pizza trailing) and interrupt the magician just as a red-eyed rabbit jumps from his hat with a bunch of white carrots. Pleasurable pandemonium ensues; the magician is unmasked as the Monroes' Cousin Charlie; and a delighted young Toby Monroe learns how to get a rabbit out of a hat—a trick readers can mimic with instructions (and/or ``punch-out props'') in the back. The appealing animals in Daniel's illustrations burst their borders- -and almost off the pages. Predictable, but fans will love it. (Picture book. 5-9)