Houndsley and Catina and the Birthday Surprise

Description: Great friends think alike, as Howe, creator of "Bunnicula, " and award-winning illustrator Gay ("Rainy Day Magic") bring a beguiling duo back for their second adventure. Full color.

Review Quotes: 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