“Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas”
by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson.
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, New York, 40 pages, Grades 2-3.
When children move beyond picture books they encounter transitional readers. These books are written with a simple plot line and have a limited vocabulary. The limited reading skills of the intended audience force writers to create high interest stories with simple text. Cynthia Rylant, Newbery Medalist, has also written a delightful series of these early readers. The central characters are a young boy named Henry, and his large dog, Mudge. In this charming story, Henry and Mudge visit the child’s great grandpa. A number of endearing interactions between the boy, his dog and the great grandpa make up the story.
Henry takes Mudge to visit his Great Grandpa Bill. The older gentleman lives in a retirement home with other elderly men. Te seniors all look old to Henry and he treats them all as grandpas. The elderly men just can’t get enough of Mudge. They love to pet him, talk to him and be near to the big dog. Mudge likes all the grandpas and great grandpas and enjoys the attention that they shower on him. Henry’s parents have joined the child on one visit and chat with great grandpa. When this occurs, Henry and Mudge decide to go on an adventure. They race out of the house and are soon in a nearby forest. Soon they run through the bushes, look in hidden places and Henry swings from tree limbs. They continue exploring the area and discover a large pond. It is so inviting that Henry thinks about going swimming. Mudge just plunges into the water and begins dog paddling in the water.
Henry wants to go swimming as well but remembers his parents warning that children should never swim alone. So he puts aside his desire to swim by himself and returns with Mudge to the retirement home. A plan begins to form in his mind. Henry tells his parents the plan and it begins to happen. Henry’s mom stays at the house and starts preparing a big spaghetti dinner for the grandpas. But Henry and Mudge, with his dad, the grandfathers and Great Grandpa Bill head back into the woods for an adventure. Where do they go?
Does the pond that Henry and Mudge found play a part in their adventure? Why do the grandpas need to lean on Mudge throughout the trip? How does this adventure turn out to be such a delightful episode for everyone? What is waiting for them when they come back to the retirement home? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this delightful story, “Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas” by Cynthia Rylant.
Cynthia Rylant is a famous writer in the field of children’s literature. Her book, “Missing May,” won the Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature in 1993. Many of her books are set in her native state of West Virginia and have an Appalachian cultural setting Having overcome some long odds in her own life, many of her characters must struggle with difficult life situations. But all of her books show life in a deeply humane, uplifting manner. She must be a marvelous woman. The Henry and Mudge series is quite different from her deeper novels. This series is written to help young children positively navigate their lives as they grow up. She is a can’t-miss author. I hope you get a chance to read “Henry and Mudge and the Great Grandpas” or any of the titles in the Henry and Mudge series. I loved them. Enjoy!
