Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise (Houndsley and Catina)

by James Howe (Author) Marie-Louise Gay (Illustrator)

Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise (Houndsley and Catina)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Houndsley is sad because he doesn't know when his birthday is. All of a sudden Catina is sad, too, but it won't be long before the very best of friends discover a way to brighten even the saddest day.
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"Using language appropriate for new readers, Howe crafts a knowing paean...to the care and feeding of friendship."

ALA/Booklist

"Published in beginning-reader format, this gentle story will appeal to children's compassion as well as their sense of humor. Though the setting is a cold, sometimes-bleak autumn, Gay's pencil, watercolor, and collage artwork glows with warmth, style, and quiet pizzazz. An appealing book for independent readers in the early grades, the story will also make a good fall read-aloud for preschool classes."

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2The personable canine and feline friends continue their adventures in this early reader. Houndsley tells Catina that he is sad because he doesnt know his birth date. Worried that he has made her sad, tooshe doesnt know when her birthday falls, eitherhe decides to surprise her with a cake. Catina is up to her own surprises, though, and arranges a birthday party for her pal. Gays soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations with collage details are fun and lighthearted, and scenes are filled with activity and assorted sweet-looking animals. The ratio between text and pictures will appeal to new readers."Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX" Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Gay's acrylic illustrations, enhanced by cutouts of decorative paper, emphasize the friends' kind feelings and creative enthusiasm.
—Toronto Star

A warm, gently humorous, makes-you-smile-all-over depiction of best friendship...here's hoping there are more adventures ahead for this cat and dog duo.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
James Howe
James Howe is the author of more than ninety books for young readers. Bunnicula, coauthored by his late wife Deborah and published in 1979, is considered a modern classic of children's literature. The author has written six highly popular sequels, along with the spinoff series Tales from the House of Bunnicula and Bunnicula and Friends. Among his other books are picture books such as Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores and beginning reader series that include the Pinky and Rex and Houndsley and Catina books. He has also written for older readers. The Misfits, published in 2001, inspired the nationwide antibullying initiative No Name-Calling Week, as well as three sequels, Totally Joe, Addie on the Inside, and Also Known as Elvis. A common theme in James Howe's books from preschool through teens is the acceptance of difference and being true to oneself. Visit him online at JamesHowe.com.
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9780763624057
Lexile Measure
530
Guided Reading Level
K
Publisher
Candlewick Press (MA)
Publication date
September 26, 2006
Series
Houndsley and Catina
BISAC categories
JUV045000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Chapter Books
Library of Congress categories
Cats
Friendship
Dogs
Parties
Birthdays

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