Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time [Hardcover]

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

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Houndsley and Catina

The creators of the E. B. White Read Aloud winner HOUNDSLEY AND CATINA offer a charming sequel about taking time out from the hustle and bustle.

The first snow of winter has fallen, and Houndsley is very happy, as he loves the quiet time. Catina does not like the quiet time, however, and she does not enjoy being snowed in. What about all her plans for the day? What if their evening concert has to be canceled? With a bit of pretending, a few books and board games, a flourish of creativity, and
some time to dream, Houndsley helps Catina let go of her worries and enjoy the snowy day, wherever it might take them.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Starred Review. Kindergarten-Grade 2—"The quiet. It is almost like music." With the delicacy of snow falling silently on treetops and musical notes passing across the page, close friends Houndsley (a wise dog who happens to play the cello) and Catina (a childlike perfectionist cat who plays the clarinet) find their performance plans interrupted by a snowstorm. While Catina always worries about that which cannot be done, and Houndsley always finds a positive solution to every situation, the realities of a winter storm lead the friends to use their imaginations and create an "island" in Houndsley's house, enjoying a day of reading and writing poetry, games, and shared dreams. Soft watercolors and a pastel palette reveal the cozy clutter of Houndsley's home, and white snow-washed scenes of snowmen add gentle, whimsical humor to a day of restricted activities inspired by the weather. This small book provides a seamless visualization of the perfect conclusion to a snowy day.—Mary Elam, Forman Elementary School, Plano, TX
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From Booklist

Emergent readers will enjoy the latest outing featuring this appealing cat-and-dog friendship. The first winter storm finds the duo snowed in while preparing for the evening’s community concert. Houndsley loves the quiet time, while Catina is hopping mad that she is stuck inside. Finally, neighbors shovel them out and the concert takes place after all. Gay’s delicate watercolors capture the delight of a wintry day, and Howe’s on-target portrayal of friends who get along despite bumps along the way make this special. Grades K-2. --Bina Williams

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1St Edition edition (September 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763633844
• ISBN-13: 978-0763633844
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 0.4 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #730,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet, nice and cute winter tale, November 5, 2009

By 

Carrie Dunham-LaGree "nomadreader" (Des Moines, Iowa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time (Hardcover)

Houndsley and Catina are a continuing set of characters. It's the first book I've read, so I can't say if one should read them in order or not. Houndsley, a dog, and Catina, a cat, appear to be roommates and best friends, although there may well be a romance or familial relation. It's the first snow of the winter, and Houndsley is thrilled. He loves to be snowed in an imagines their home to be like an island. Catina is not thrilled because she is very much looking forward to the concert tonight. She's been practicing for months. Slowly, Houndsley convinces her to join him on the island and think of all the fun things they can do without leaving home.

Houndsley and Catina are cute, and they both manage to have a mix of childlike and grown-up sensibilities. I appreciate that the story is mostly devoid of gendered behavior. Most importantly, Houndsley and Catina build snow creatures (rather than the ubiquitous snowmen)! I laughed out loud a few times, and it was an enjoyable book. It reminds me very much of the Frog and Toad books I loved when I was young. If Elephant and Piggie books are what your young, hip aunt buys for you, then Houndsley and Catina books are what your sweet grandmother buys for you. It was a nice book, but it does lack a little bit of the fun factor.

It is also a wonderful transition to chapter books. The pictures would not be out of place in a picture book. Marie-Louise Gay does a fantastic job illustrating. Houndsley and Catina would be a good choice for early chapter book readers and for reading aloud. It's divided into three chapters, but quick readers will finish it in one sitting.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars sweet and cozy winter tale, February 16, 2009

By 

Robyn Vandewalle - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time (Hardcover)

My children have asked me to read this over and over since it arrived. The dialogue between the two main characters is clever and the picures are gentle and soft. A fun book for a cold weather day. I look forward to adding more books from the series to our library.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, January 31, 2009

By 

Teacher Librarian - See all my reviews

This review is from: Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time (Hardcover)

Will appeal to children and adults, lap read to younger children. Independent reading aprox. second grade. Use for visualization and questioning. Read aloud prek- 3rd. Pair with books about snow or friendship. Perfect for a winter theme.