Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Henry and Mudge and the happy cat
Illustrator: Sucie Stevenson
Fiction Series
For ages 5 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 1994 ISBN: 068981013X
One day, while Henry’s family is watching TV, Henry’s dog Mudge begins to bark at the door. When Henry’s father opens the door, he sees that a very odd looking cat is sitting on the mat. It is the “shabbiest” cat Henry and his father and mother have ever seen. Henry’s father even jokes that the cat might not be a cat at all.
Henry’s family decide to take care of the cat until a new home, or its owners, can be found. The funny thing is that the cat and Mudge are soon the best of friends. The cat washes Mudge and behaves as if it is Mudge’s mother. It teaches Mudge how to have good manners, and Mudge learns how to share his water bowl, his toys, and even his crackers with the cat.
Then Henry’s parents decide that it is time to find the cat a home. What will Henry and Mudge do if someone wants to take the cat home?
In this delightful story, young readers who are ready to read on their own get to share a very special adventure with Henry and Mudge. With humor, and sensitivity, Cynthia Rylant explores what it is like to make, and to lose, a new furry friend.
This title is just one in a large collection of wonderful books about Henry and Mudge.