From the archives, a 2009 post about Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time (Candlewick, 2008), written by James Howe and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay. With more snow on the way, it seems like just the thing.
A small gem of a book that celebrates winter, friendship, and being in the moment. In James Howe's beginning reader, two chums—a dog and a cat—are practicing at Houndsley's house for an upcoming concert when a snowstorm begins. Catina is antsy.
"Oh," said Houndsley. "But that is why this is my favorite time of year. In the quiet time, everything stops. I think we may be snowed in."
Houndsley's example helps Catina learn to enjoy the change of pace as they bake cookies, play music, and read. (Young readers will glean many ways to avoid cabin fever on a day when they're confined.) The animal pals generously include a third friend, Bert the goose, in their cozy good time. Marie-Louise Gay's watercolor/pencil/collage illustrations depict the action with gentle humor and a soul-warming palette of wintertime colors; even the endpapers are lovely.
Not too long at three chapters and 48 pages, Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time, the third in the Houndsley & Catina series, makes a good choice for first and second graders as well as the read-aloud crowd. All classroom libraries in the snowy states ought to have a copy!
I do love Houndsley and Catina.
Posted by: adrienne | January 25, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Me, too, Adrienne. I'm going to share it with one of the second graders I know.
Posted by: Susan (Chicken Spaghetti) | January 25, 2011 at 01:44 PM
My two older girls (six and four) love this book! It's the only Houndsley and Catina one we've read--I need to remember to check out some others.
Posted by: megwrites | January 25, 2011 at 04:53 PM
Megwrites, don't you love it when you find something your kids adore?
Posted by: Susan (Chicken Spaghetti) | January 25, 2011 at 06:23 PM