Houndsley and Catina and Cousin Wagster
by James Howe; Illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay
Candlewick Press (September 4, 2018)
Fiction * Early Reader * Friendship
Audience: Kindergarten to 3rd grade
Indiebound | WorldCat
Description from GoodReads: Does Catina like Houndsley's larger-than-life cousin more than she likes him? The charming friends return in this relatable tale.
When his cousin Wagster comes for a visit, Houndsley is excited. Wagster is all adventure and enthusiasm and razzle-dazzle, and all his friends love him. Even Catina thinks Wagster is fun and good at everything, and pretty soon Houndsley is starting to feel a little bit invisible. But Houndsley and Catina are best friends, and certainly Cousin Wagster won't change that -- right? James Howe and Marie-Louise Gay have created a tender and funny story about some of the ways that friendships can change, and how they also stay exactly the same.
Quick thoughts on the book:
Houndsley and Catina are back and this time they have a visitor. Houndsley's cousin Wagster has come into town and spending time with Houndsley and his friends.
Wagster is quite the character and within three chapters Howe does a nice job in capturing all of the emotions of having someone "bigger than life" visit. Houndsley especially feels the strain of Wagster's visit and at times feels inadequate. Of course, Houndsley and the others learn that some people are a "beautiful butterfly that makes your world brighter but then flies off" and others are "beautiful butterflies that make your world brighter and stay".
Friendship stories are always a fund read and typically very relatable for children. The latest Houndsley and Catina book is no exception.
If you want more Houndsley and Catina check out Houndsley and Catina: Through the Seasons.
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