| Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time |
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What You Need to Know:
• Houndsley and Catina is an exceptionally well-written Learning to Read SR book/series.
• This installment, Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time, evokes calm and peaceful imagery of heavy, quiet snowfalls.
• As the title suggests, it is a serene story, perfectly suited for bedtime.
• The author, James Howe, said he was motivated to write this story as a reminder to step out of our busy and overscheduled modern lives and just be in the moment.
• The Houndsley and Catina stories are a new and modern take on the friendship/buddy story, in the same vein, and should be held with as much regard, as Frog and Toad and George and Martha.
• The chapters are continuous, as opposed to small, short unrelated stories as often found at this reading level. This is particularly helpful to move a young reader along to more challenging books by allowing them to practice retaining characters and plotlines. |
Sweet Series Background:
Houndley and Catina is a superb Learning to Read SR, series. It is an appealing account of two young friends, Houndsley the dog and Catina the cat. Houndsley is the strong, silent, level-headed type and Catina is more effervescent, chatty, and exuberant. Throughout these lovely stories, the two friends learn that even though their personalities are very different, they are actually more alike than would seem. Each book (4 in all as of 2009) imparts meaningful lessons they learn from each other about friendship and life. Howe's spare prose and Gay's gorgeous illustrations make for a truly welcome new contender in the buddy book genre. |
Sweet Book Summary:
Houndsley and Catina have a concert tonight! Catina is planning her whisker curling and new dress in preparation for the evening, when the first storm of winter arrives and they are snowed in the house. Catina is beside herself, but throughout this sweet, peaceful story, Houndsley convinces her of the merits of a quiet day inside. He reminds her of all the quiet activities that can be so enjoyable once we stop rushing about, including poetry reading, poetry writing, board games, napping and baking cookies. Houndsley is so convincing that when the neighbors go ahead with the concert in the gazebo, Catina is regretful her quiet day must end. This lovely story imparts the positively timely message to our children of the merits of quiet and tranquility in our cluttered, loud, and electronic world. It reminds them to sometimes step out of it all and take a break (a good message for adults, too!). |
Author: James Howe Illustrator: Marie-Louise Gay Published: 2008, 48 pages
Themes: Animals, Friendship, Excellent Read-Aloud, Exquisite Illustrations, Extraordinary Language |
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