Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise: Candlewick Sparks [Paperback]

James Howe (Author), Marie-Louise Gay (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Candlewick Sparks

"Published in beginning-reader format, this gentle story will appeal to children’s compassion as well as their sense of humor." — BOOKLIST

Houndsley is sad. Not because it’s raining or because there are holes in his sweater, but because he doesn’t know when his birthday is. And now Catina is sad, too. But friends are good at cheering each other up, and Houndsley and Catina are the best of friends. So it won’t be long before they each discover, in a most surprising way, how a first-rate friend can brighten even the saddest days.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2–The personable canine and feline friends continue their adventures in this early reader. Houndsley tells Catina that he is sad because he doesn't know his birth date. Worried that he has made her sad, too–she doesn't know when her birthday falls, either–he decides to surprise her with a cake. Catina is up to her own surprises, though, and arranges a birthday party for her pal. Gay's soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations with collage details are fun and lighthearted, and scenes are filled with activity and assorted sweet-looking animals. The ratio between text and pictures will appeal to new readers.–Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

This sequel to Houndsley and Catina (2006) begins with Houndsley the dog feeling blue and his best friend, Catina the cat, wondering why. Walking in the rain with his pal, Houndsley admits that he is sad because he doesn't know when his birthday is. Catina confesses that she doesn't know her birth date either. Within days, each animal has found a way to cheer the other. Published in beginning-reader format, this gentle story will appeal to children's compassion as well as their sense of humor. Though the setting is a cold, sometimes-bleak autumn, Gay's pencil, watercolor, and collage artwork glows with warmth, style, and quiet pizzazz. An appealing book for independent readers in the early grades, the story will also make a good fall read-aloud for preschool classes. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick (August 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763636401
• ISBN-13: 978-0763636401
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.2 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #809,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( H ) > Howe, James

More About the Author

James Howe has written more than eighty books in the thirty-plus years he's been writing for young readers. It sometimes confuses people that the author of the humorous Bunnicula series also wrote the dark young adult novel, The Watcher, or such beginning reader series as Pinky and Rex and the E.B. White Read Aloud Award-winning Houndsley and Catina and its sequels. But from the beginning of his career (which came about somewhat by accident after asking himself what kind of vampire a rabbit might make), he has been most interested in letting his imagination take him in whatever direction it cared to. So far, his imagination has led him to picture books, such as I Wish I Were a Butterfly and Brontorina (about a dinosaur who dreams of being a ballerina), mysteries, poetry (in the upcoming Addie on the Inside), and fiction that deals with issues that matter deeply to him. He is especially proud of The Misfits, which inspired national No Name-Calling Week (www.nonamecallingweek.org) and its sequel Totally Joe. He does not know where his imagination will take him in the next thirty-plus years, but he is looking forward to finding out.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Illustrations & Kind Message, March 5, 2007

By 

Wantz Upon A Time Reviews (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise (Hardcover)

Houndsley is sad. He doesn't know what date his birthday is on. When he tells Catina, she seems sad, too. She doesn't know, either. In fact, she doesn't know what day to celebrate her birthday, either.

Houndsley didn't mean to make Catina sad, so he decides to make her a surprise. Little does he know that Catina has a plan, too!

Young readers will get a lot out of this book. Birthdays are so important to children that they tend to obsess about it. What about those who don't get to be so excited for their birthdays (for whatever reason)? After reading this short chapter book, kids may be inspired to do something special for others. Even if they aren't, they will still enjoy the sweet illustrations and kind message.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
03/05/2007

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Also available as paperback/CD, hardcover/cassette, and paperback/cassette editions, March 16, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise (Hardcover/AudioCD) (Hardcover)

A premier publisher of audio book adaptations of children's picturebooks, Live Oak Media has produced audio editions of an outstanding title by author James Howe and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay. "Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise" continues their adventures as Houndsley worries that he's made Catina sad by admitting he doesn't know when his birthday is -- and had reminded her that she didn't know hers either! He tries to cheer her up with a birthday cake, and because she is his friend as well, Catina has her own surprise for Houndsley! In addition to being available as a hardcover/CD combination, this outstanding and highly recommended title is also available as paperback/CD, hardcover/cassette, and paperback/cassette editions.