Houndsley and Catina - Plink and Plunk

Written by James Howe

Narrated by Peter Pamela Rose

Once again, friends Houndsley and Catina have different ideas about what makes their adventures fun.

And, yet again the very different friends find resourceful ways to work through their differences and still enjoy each other’s company.

A Live Oak Media audio production.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Live Oak Media
• Release date: Jan 1, 2011
• ISBN: 9781430115281

James Howe

James Howe is the author of more than ninety books for young readers. Bunnicula, coauthored by his late wife Deborah and published in 1979, is considered a modern classic of children’s literature. The author has written six highly popular sequels, along with the spinoff series Tales from the House of Bunnicula and Bunnicula and Friends. Among his other books are picture books such as Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores and beginning reader series that include the Pinky and Rex and Houndsley and Catina books. He has also written for older readers. The Misfits, published in 2001, inspired the nationwide antibullying initiative No Name-Calling Week, as well as three sequels, Totally Joe, Addie on the Inside, and Also Known as Elvis. A common theme in James Howe’s books from preschool through teens is the acceptance of difference and being true to oneself. Visit him online at JamesHowe.com.

Reviews for Houndsley and Catina - Plink and Plunk

[jessie_bear_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Two friends embark on outdoor activities, discovering the power of friendship through conquering fears and acquiring new skills. This heart-warming tale spans three chapters. Together, the story is stronger than if the chapters were read as a stand-alone, as the third chapter unites the first two and provides a satisfying resolution. The worries and new skills Houndsley and Catina deal with, swimming and riding a two-wheeled bicycle, are appropriately relevant to the target reading audience. The text is broken up unevenly, with varying amounts of words on each page. Some pages have only a few sentences while some have an unbroken page of text, transitioning early readers into a more text-heavy format. The illustrations still break up the story well, and like the text, vary in size up to an entire page. This book is illustrated using watercolor, pencil, and collage, which is especially successful in depicting the trees and water of the outdoor settings. Each picture shows the characters moving or interacting, capturing the main elements of the story. This early reader carries excellent morals about honesty, facing fears, and trying something new, supported by a tale of strong, solid friendship. It is highly recommended for children ages six through seven.