Puppy Mudge Finds a Friend

PreS-Gr 1—Henry's puppy, Mudge, likes a lot of things. He likes playing with his chew toys, eating crackers, drooling, and living with Henry. But, most of all, he likes cats, especially his new friend Fluffy. Mudge and Fluffy play chase around the yard and hide and seek in the living room. When they're finished playing, they rest together—Fluffy purring and Mudge snoring. The "Puppy Mudge" titles are geared toward a younger audience than the Henry and Mudge original easy readers. Beginning readers will appreciate the large font size and repetitive, simple text (Simon Spotlight, 2004). Large, bright illustrations by Sucie Stevenson complement the story. The audio recording is enhanced with background sounds such as squeaky toy noises, dogs panting and barking, and drool dripping. Suzanne Toren's clear and well-paced narration gives students adequate time to follow along with the text. A great way to introduce the youngest readers to Rylant's classic characters.—Anne Bozievich, Friendship Elementary School, Glen Rock, PA