HENRY AND MUDGE AND THE STARRY NIGHT

by Cynthia Rylant ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 1998

Rylant (Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers, 1998, etc.) slips into a sentimental mode for this latest outing of the boy and his dog, as she sends Mudge and Henry and his parents off on a camping trip. Each character is attended to, each personality sketched in a few brief words: Henry's mother is the camping veteran with outdoor savvy; Henry's father doesn't know a tent stake from a marshmallow fork, but he's got a guitar for campfire entertainment; and the principals are their usual ready-for-fun selves. There are sappy moments, e.g., after an evening of star-gazing, Rylant sends the family off to bed with: ""Everyone slept safe and sound and there were no bears, no scares. Just the clean smell of trees . . . and wonderful green dreams."" With its nice tempo, the story is as toasty as its campfire and swaddled in Stevenson's trusty artwork.

Pub Date: April 1, 1998

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 48

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1998

Categories: CHILDREN'S