Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Henry and Mudge and the Careful Cousin
Illustrator: Sucie Stevenson
Fiction Series
For ages 5 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 1994 ISBN: 978-0689813863
Henry and his dog Mudge are on the front porch of Henry’s house. Henry’s cousin Annie is coming over and she is going to spend the night. Henry has never met Annie and he hopes that she is “fun.” While he waits, Henry brushes Mudge. The big dog loves being brushed and now he will look nice for Annie’s visit.
As soon as Henry sees Annie he gets worried. Annie “looks dressed up.” She is wearing a frilly dress and shiny shoes and she doesn’t look like the kind of girl who would like being drooled on. Mudge is a big drooler, and before Henry can stop him, Mudge gives Annie a big drooly kiss. Henry soon discovers that Annie also does not like messy rooms, smelly fish tanks, and cookies that have been stored in a bag under a bed. In short, Annie and Henry have nothing in common. What are they going to do for a whole day and night?
Children soon learn that every human is an original. None of us are the same, which means that we all have our own interests and ways of doing things. Trying to figure out how to get along with someone who is not like you is not easy, and children will enjoy seeing how Henry and Annie figure things out.
This is one in a series of books written by Cynthia Rylant that take us into the life and world of Henry and his wonderful, big dog Mudge.
