Henry And Mudge In The Family Trees

Rating:
Summary: Henry and Mudge and the Whole Family
Review: 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.


Rating:
Summary: A gem of a book for kids and parents alike
Review: 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.