HENRY AND MUDGE AND THE LONG WEEKEND

Making what must be a record for high quality and longevity in a series, the small boy and his large dog make an 11th appearance—this time in a story about a boring, wet weekend that's transformed by a creative family project. It's Mom's idea to build a castle from two appliance boxes; each bringing their own plans and dreams, she and Henry, Dad and Mudge throw themselves into construction, sending out for pizza when they get hungry. In a nice bit of economical plotting, Mom drops out on Sunday morning: the idea person doesn't always have the most follow-through, but it also frees her to be gratifyingly surprised by the splendid final result. Stevenson's illustrations are as merry and deft as ever, and a warm good time is had by all—especially the reader. (Easy reader. 4-8)