Books in this series are excellent choices for emergent or beginning readers. The sentences are short and easy to read, and the illustrations practically tell the story by themselves. Like other Henry and Mudge books (H&M for short), this book is divided into chapters. In this case, each chapter represents a different story for our boy & dog team in springtime (in other H&M books the story is split up into chapters like regular books).
In the first book, H&M discover a beautiful flower that has sprung from the ground. That is, until Mudge eats it! In the second, the spring rains have made the world puddle-luscious and they're just perfect for jumping in (even for adults!!). In the final chapter, a neighborhood cat has her kittens, and Mudge acts as a kind of guardian/father to them when another neighborhood dog comes prowling around.
Henry & Mudge books are by far a favorite of both me the teacher and my students. They're about the simple happy pleasures of everyday that often we tend to overlook in the pursuit for the Next Big Thing To Do For Fun And Excitement. It isn't necessary to start with any one particular book, but once you start reading H&M, you'll want to keep reading them all!!
In this third book in the H&M series, summertime has arrived with adventures galore for boy & dog. Divided into chapters, each functioning as a mini story but related to each other, Henry and his 180-pound dog Mudge explore the wide, green world of summer. In one of the most notable chapters, a bee stings Henry, and boy does it HURT!! Fortunately, good ol' Mudge is there to make Henry feel better (a good face-licking by Mudge helps Henry forget his pain at being stung-Mudge likes the salty taste of tears).
As a teacher I love the H&M series because the illustrations are always bright, vibrant and immediately draw my students into the story. I also love the short, easy sentences, which are perfect for beginning-to-intermediate readers who feel that they're ready to tackle chapter books. As a parent, I love the way that this series is about the small adventures in life that are right on the level of the reader. Nothing blows up, aliens don't invade the countryside sucking out peoples' innards, and the world isn't narrowly saved from oblivion. Mudge is a wonderfully realistic dog that is completely devoted to Henry, like most real dogs are devoted to the children they live with.
As of this writing, there are some 20 H&M books, each a small treasure and each a wonderful read. Though they're numbered, it's not at all necessary to begin with #1 and progress up to #20; readers can grab whichever title catches their whim and follow along with the adventures. I myself have read them all and am not so patiently waiting for the next ones to come out. Each book comes highly recommended.
The family takes him to the vet, where, in one of the funnier scenes, the anxious dog sheds all over the waiting room. The happy ending, simple yet interesting structure, and depiction of a boy and dog's mutual love make for an entertaining book for young children. Repetition of some words and satisfying pictures tied to the story will help the new reader.
Henry and Mudge enjoy the winter season in this delightful collection of three short stories. The words are easy and the type is large enough for the beginning reader to feel comfortable. This book is filled with humorous illustrations that extend the text. In one illustration Henry is sliding a reluctant Mudge across an icy pond. In another picture Mudge messes up Henry's snow angel. This is a good book for the younger set.
Used price: $102.96