Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise
Candlewick Sparks
- Publisher
- Candlewick Press
- Initial publish date
- Apr 2013
- Category
- Birthdays, Friendship, Intermediate
-
Hardback
- ISBN
- 9780763624057
- Publish Date
- Sep 2006
- List Price
- $22.99
-
Paperback / softback
- ISBN
- 9780763666392
- Publish Date
- Apr 2013
- List Price
- $7.99
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Where to buy it
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age: 5 to 9
- Grade: k to 4
Description
"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.
About the authors
MARIE-LOUISE GAY has achieved international acclaim as an author and illustrator of children’s books. She has won many awards, including two Governor General’s awards, the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Award, the Vicky Metcalf Award and the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award. She has also been nominated for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Marie-Louise’s very popular Stella and Sam series has been translated into more than fifteen languages and is loved by children all over the world. Her recent books include Any Questions? and Short Stories for Little Monsters. She lives in Montreal. marielouisegay.com
Editorial Reviews
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.
—Booklist
Using language appropriate for new readers, Howe crafts a knowing paean…to the care and feeding of friendship.
—Kirkus Reviews
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.
—School Library Journal
Gay's acrylic illustrations, enhanced by cutouts of decorative paper, emphasize the friends' kind feelings and creative enthusiasm.
—Toronto Star
A warm, gently humorous, makes-you-smile-all-over depiction of best friendship…here’s hoping there are more adventures ahead for this cat and dog duo.
—Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
