Product Description

Henry and his 180-pound dog Mudge are best friends forever. And in this, the fifteenth book of their adventures, they are going to their first family reunion.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #74335 in Books
• Published on: 1998-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 48 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780689823176
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3. Fans of Henry and Mudge won't be disappointed by this new adventure. Henry and his parents are invited to a family reunion at Cousin Annie's house. Henry's father promises him lots of good things: meeting new relatives, hearing fun stories, and a million sloppy kisses. The boy is excited to go, but worries that his relatives won't understand Mudge and his dog drool. But to the boy's delight, the family is thrilled to see Mudge?he was built for sloppy kisses! Rylant writes in a straightforward, engaging voice, keeping the action simple but interesting. Beginning readers who need to take breaks will be pleased to have three separate chapters to read, but those who are ready can easily speed through the whole book. Stevenson's warm pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations add to the liveliness of the story; every relative has an individual character and personality. Cousin Annie's room may be decorated in pink lace, but she has a submarine game that wows Henry and she has no fear of Mudge, or what his drool might do to her pretty bed. Any child who has experienced sloppy kisses from a multitude of relatives will know just what Henry is experiencing.?Dina Sherman, Brooklyn Children's Museum, NY
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 1^-2. Invited to a family reunion at Cousin Annie's house, Henry looks forward to meeting new relatives, but he begins to worry about whether they will like his dog, Mudge, as much as he does. Uppermost in his thoughts is this poignant question, "Will they understand dog drool?" Soon after arriving, though, he finds that they not only adore Mudge but also treat the obliging dog to their own special greeting: sloppy kisses. Series fans will enjoy the reappearance of Henry's "careful cousin" Annie. Readers looking for a story with drama and conflict should look elsewhere, but those happy to spend a little more time with Henry and Mudge will find this a warm celebration of the extended family. Carolyn Phelan

Review
Kirkus Reviews Warm, loving, and gently philosophical, these stories about an only child and his closest companion deserve a place in every library collection. -- Review

Customer Reviews

A gem of a book for kids and parents alike
Stumbling upon the Henry and Mudge books was like stumbling upon a gold mine. My first grader and my preschooler absolutely love these books. This one is my personal favorite but every one of these adventures is wonderful. Rylant uses simple words so beautifully. I can't think of a better way for us to help our children learn to love reading than by giving them books that tell great stories in such well-written fashion. Although the stories are about a boy and his dog, they appeal to my daughters, neither of whom even like dogs (or boys, for that matter). Six and seven-year olds should be able to read them for themselves, and younger children will love to hear them read over and over. If you're looking for a great series of books for 4-7 year olds, check out all of the books in this series.

Henry and Mudge and the Whole Family
As usual in this cheerful series, Henry and his big dog Mudge are featured in three related stories, this time about a family reunion. They receive a letter labeled "invitation."

Henry loved invitations.
Mudge loved them, too,
because they usually
meant cake.

Much of the book's humor and warmth is structured by these boy-dog comparisons. Sucie Stevenson's pleasant watercolor and pen-and-ink drawings are loose, spacious, and casual. The story centers on old-fashioned extended family fun, but it is not quite as interesting or engaging as others in the series. Still, the portrayal of intergeneration and inter-species love is sweet. The publishers rate "Henry and Mudge in the Family Trees" as a "Level 2 Reading Together" book, and the book jacket says "Ages 6-8." Rylant and Stevenson have written many "Henry and Mudge" books, and you might want to explore some of their other books offered here.

Series
Our kids just love these books both for when we read them to them and for them to read later to us. I just wish they would create a series of books in one larger collection.