Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Henry and Mudge and the Wild Goose Chase
Illustrator: Carolyn Bracken
Fiction Series
For ages 5 to 7
Simon and Schuster, 2004 ISBN: 978-0689834509
One morning at breakfast Henry’s mother decides that she has a hankering for “farm-fresh” eggs and produce, and that very day Henry, his dog Mudge, and Henry’s parents get into the family car and drive out into the country where they stop at French’s Farm.
While his parents are looking at the produce and other items that are for sale, Mudge and Henry set off to explore the farm. They meet a goat that tries to eat Henry’s shirt, a shy cat and her gregarious kittens, a sheep, and some chickens. On the whole all the farm animals are friendly. Then Henry and Mudge come face to beak with a goose and the goose is clearly in a very grumpy mood. In fact it is so grumpy that Henry and Mudge get into a little trouble.
In this delightful Henry and Mudge book the little boy and his beloved dog go to a farm and learn that farm animals can be rather surprising. Cynthia Rylant has a gift for taking a simple story and making it special, and this is just what she does in this tale.