Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers [Paperback]

Cynthia Rylant (Author), Suçie Stevenson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Henry and Mudge

With his new spy kit and his faithful sidekick Mudge, Henry is ready to look for clues, steal secrets, and flirt with danger. One of the first things Henry and Mudge find is a coded message -- could there be another spy in the neighborhood?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?In this latest installment about a boy and his oversized pup, Henry empties his piggy bank and buys a spy kit. He wears the dark glasses himself and puts the hat on Mudge. While spying around the neighborhood, they discover a paper with a coded message near some trash cans. Henry takes it home, thinks about it for a bit, decodes it, and then sends a return message. After several exchanges, Henry and Mudge meet the other spy who also has a dog in disguise. Calling themselves "Crackers" for being good at cracking codes, the boys form a club and carry real crackers in their pockets for ID. Rylant tells the story in a concise format while maintaining a sense of humor and flow of words. The combination of the text and Stevenson's colorful, expressive illustrations makes this book more than just a beginning reader?preschoolers will welcome this duo into storyhour programs.
Nancy A. Gifford, Schenectady County Public Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 1^-2, younger for reading aloud. Henry and his beloved dog Mudge return in their umpteenth adventure to delight their avid following. This time, the devoted duo are having fun with a new spy kit. While Mudge wears the battered hat (he drooled on the magnifying glass), Henry decodes a secret message that leads to a new friend. Not as humorous as some of the delightful duo's previous adventures, but still fun and spaciously laid out and profusely illustrated to make learning new words like magnifying glass and suspicious more enjoyable. Stephanie Zvirin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Simon Spotlight (February 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689825250
• ISBN-13: 978-0689825255
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,583 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( R ) > Rylant, Cynthia
  • #54 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Animals > Pets > Fiction
  • #94 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Pets

More About the Author

Cynthia Rylant is the author of numerous distinguished novels and picture books for young readers. In addition to her beginning-reader series: Henry and Mudge, Poppleton, and Mr. Putter and Tabby, as well as her Cobble Street Cousins early-chapter series, she is also the author of the Newbery Medal-winning Missing May, the Newbery Honor Book A Fine White Dust, and two Caldecott Honor-winning picture books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adorable and fun!, April 9, 2000

By 

S. Sayers - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers (Paperback)

Henry buys a spy kit. He and his dog, Mudge, canvas the neighborhood to "flirt with danger" and "steal secrets". One day Henry finds a secret code and is determined to crack it. Funny, adorable, irresistable Mudge is a favorite at house! He can even get my reluctant reader eager to see what happens next. Easy reading level with short chapters gives the hesitant reader a real sense of accomplishment.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for early readers, February 19, 2008

By 

P. Gould (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers (Paperback)

My 1st grader loves reading Henry and Mudge books. The charming water color and ink pictures, and the realistic kid adventures, create an engaging experience for early readers. The author does an almost magical job relaying the fears, temptations and ambitions of childhood. And many kids can identify with Henry's passionate love for his big dog, Mudge. Plus, this series will appeal to both boys and girls.

The series is at the 1st grade reading level. This book is a "chapter" book (not a "baby" book) with 3 Chapters, and about 40 pages of half text, half artwork. (Just to give you an idea of the reading level, the Henry and Mudge books are easier than Magic Tree House, but harder than the advanced Bob books.)

This particular book is about Henry's adventures with a new spy kit and with making a new friend. It's a lighthearted tale with a few good laughs.

Note: you might want to purchase Henry And Mudge First Book before this book or with this book. It introduces the characters used in the rest of the series.

Enjoy!
P. Gould, co-author of Feeding the Kids: The Flexible, No-Battles, Healthy Eating System for the Whole Family (Fork and Spoon Field Guides) (Fork and Spoon Field Guides)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NEPHEW LOVED THIS ONE TOO, January 15, 2007

By 

Dawn Dellarocco (SHELTON, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers (Paperback)

I bought a bunch of these for my 9 year old nephew who was 7 and he loved them. This one he really liked. He enjoyed reading about the adventures of Henry and Mudge. These books are fun, enjoyable, entertaining, and easy to read. I've read some myself and my son Ramon who is now in second grade loves them too. His cousin loves them as a second grader now he loves them. These are great starter books to help kids on their way to reading. They really motivate kids to read because of the funny, and entertaining stories.