Henry And Mudge And Annie's Good Move

Henry and Mudge #18

by Cynthia Rylant, Suçie Stevenson (Illustrator)

Cousin Annie is moving -- and she's moving next door to Henry and his big dog Mudge!
Annie is nervous about leaving friends...changing schools...and about what might happen to all her frilly dresses on that moving truck.
Henry wants to help Annie feel better, and with a dog like Mudge around, her move is bound to be a good one after all.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Dogs, Chapter Books, Animals, Family

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Cynthia Rylant is an American author, poet, and librarian whose deeply felt books for children and young adults have made her one of the most beloved voices in contemporary literature. Writing across picture books, novels, short stories, nonfiction, and poetry, she has published more than one hundred works, many of them rooted in memory, family, solitude, and the emotional landscapes of ordinary life. Her fiction often draws from her upbringing in West Virginia and reflects the textures of Appalachian life with unusual tenderness and clarity.
Raised in modest circumstances, Rylant spent much of her childhood with her grandparents in a rural setting that later became central to her imagination as a writer. Those early years, marked by hardship as well as warmth, shaped the emotional honesty and quiet resilience that define her work. She later studied English and library science, and after working as a waitress, librarian, and teacher, she began publishing books inspired by the world she had known so intimately.
Among her most acclaimed works are Missing May, which received the Newbery Medal, and A Fine White Dust, a Newbery Honor Book. She also earned Caldecott Honors for When I Was Young in the Mountains and The Relatives Came. For younger readers, she became especially well known through the enduring Henry and Mudge series, as well as other popular books and series that combine gentleness, humor, and emotional depth.
Rylant's writing is distinguished by its compassion for lonely, searching, or overlooked characters, and by its reverence for animals, nature, and small human connections. Whether writing about grief, wonder, childhood, or belonging, she brings a lyrical simplicity that resonates across generations. Her books continue to offer comfort, recognition, and beauty to readers of all ages. She remains a singular literary presence in children's literature and beyond today.

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was repairing this one, and ended up reading the whole thing (as you do). Can't go wrong with some Henry and Mudge!
Also, thank you Rylant for stress-induced splotchiness representation.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because I liked the part when Henry helped Annie move next door. I did not like this book beause I don't really like dogs.

[Le Maistre Chat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry and Mudge #18 is Annie's third appearance, and her father Uncle Ed buys the house next door to Henry (you'll remember that in The First Book, he was the only child on that street). She goes on to make a fourth and fifth appearance, plus her 13-volume spinoff series. It's fun to see Henry's life situation change rather than remain static.
My 2-year-old daughter asks for this one over and over and asks questions about it hours afterward.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 2 out of 5]

An OK book about the stresses and fears a kid might have about moving. They are stated well, but there isn't anything special about how they are handled. And most people don't end up moving next door to their cousins/best friends.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending was weird for me. David doesn't really care about these books, but they are the ones at his reading level. Any other suggestions for something else he could read? Nate the Great is still a little too hard for him.

[Bridgette Elston · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book but I hated the idea of a kid climbing into a parked car by herself and falling asleep. At that point we stopped and had a discussion on why that's not safe before continuing to read it.

[MotherofReaders · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was weaker for me and felt more noticeably written as a “reader.” My daughter still loved it.

[The Book Box]

Mama and I read this the other night.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It surely is exciting when Henry's cousin, Annie, moves in next door. Mudge does his special part to make Annie feel right at home!

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.35

Moving. A good topic either because kids have experienced it or they've thought about it. Henry's empathy sends a positive message to young readers.

[WinterBat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shows a compassionate side for caring for friends when they’re going through a nervous time

[Kelly Chester · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I get blotchy when I get nervous too.

[TJE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cousin Annie moves next door

[Margaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun and cute series - in this installment, Henry and Mudge make a new friend. Very cute!

[Jessica Schwartz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Henry and Mudge series follows a young boy, Henry and his over sized dog, Mudge on the adventures they have together. This particular story, "Henry and Mudge and Annie's Good Move," starts off with Henry finding out that his cousin, Annie, will be moving next door. He and Mudge anticipate how her move will go and remember that Annie is very particular about her things and tends to get nervous. This proves true the day Annie moves in as she breaks out in red blotches from being so nervous. She feels this way because she is leaving all of her friends and is worried some of her belongings might get ruined. Henry explains that when he gets nervous, he hides under the covers with Mudge and suggests she do the same. This calms her down and after they are all moved in, her blotches disappear.

This book is a level two "ready to read" book and is generally geared toward beginning or struggling readers. I think it can be implemented in the classroom in this way. It can be used in guided reading groups for those students on the same achievement level. This book (and series) leaves room for students to make a lot of connections. Many students could probably relate to a time in their lives when they felt very nervous about something. They could write about their experiences as a journal prompt. Or, the students can be asked questions such as "who are the main characters?" and "what happened at the beginning, middle and end?" Chapters can also be talked about. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book.

[McKenna Crimmins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could be a very good tool to use in the classroom filled with nervous students. Opening up class with this book would be a great idea because it talks about how Annie was so nervous to move away from all of her friends and go to a new school that she got blotches all over her face. Her cousin noticed and told her to try something that he does to help him calm down and relax a little bit. She listened and did what her cousin said, and in the end, she wasn't nervous anymore, in fact, she was excited! All of her blotches went away. I would use this book to help my students realize that being nervous and scared is okay to feel, but there are many different ways to relax and get more comfortable in your environment. It may take a little longer than it took Annie, but the point is that it is possible. I was always nervous growing up going into a new classroom, filled with new people and a new teacher that I hadn't connected with. And that was exactly what Annie was nervous was, in a way. I want my students to understand that there are multiple ways to make yourself relax and sometimes other kids might have some really good ideas that you could also try.

[Chantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son and I both thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series and were excited to find out what would happen as we started each one. Because my son was between 5-6 years old (he's an advanced reader) at the time, he easily identified with Henry and loved Mudge because (1) he desperately wanted a dog, and (2) Mudge's goofiness was endearing AND hilarious.

Read Aloud: Pre-K and Kindergarten
Introduces plot, character development, foreshadowing, and use of imagery.

Independent Reading: First or Second grade (6-7 years old). More complex sentence structure than "Mr. Putter Series" and slightly longer paragraphs. Short chapters (with clever titles), character development, humor, and an easy to follow plot will encourage all children to read.

Underlying themes of friendship, thoughtfulness, and responsibility are seamlessly weaved throughout the book. Although this is a fairly simple children's book, I found myself laughing out loud at the many adventures of Henry and Mudge.

HIGHLY Recommend!!

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's time to learn more about early readers, and I chose this one up because it's written by Cynthia Rylant. It's one of many Henry and Mudge books, which will delight some young readers. This time Henry and his big dog Mudge get to help cousin Annie worry less about moving. This time, although it's a little scary for Annie, who has to leave friends and is worried that some of her things will get broken, so much that she gets "splotchy", Henry and Annie become next-door neighbors, and everything comes out all right.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We really enjoy reading the Henry and Mudge and the Annie and Snowball series. And this is a good book that bridges the two of them, with Henry's cousin Annie moving next door. Simple, but entertaining text and charming illustrations are typical for this collaborative team and we've read as many of these books as we can find and will be sure to look for more.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Henry and Mudge's eighteenth adventure, Henry's cousin Annie is moving -- right next door to Henry! Annie likes Henry and Mudge, but she's nervous about leaving her friends, and about changing schools, and about what might happen to her things on the moving truck. She's so nervous she's broken out in blotches. But Henry knows just the thing for a bad case of nerves -

[J9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great Henry and Mudge book that my 5 yr old loved. Most of these that we find at the library are level 2 reader books and right now, that's perfect for my son. He's between a level 2 and 3 and often gets either, but he absolutely loves Henry and Mudge and can relate to many of his adventures. Not for preschoolers, but great beginner reader books for the young reader.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Annie moves next door to Henry, she gets very nervous. When she starts to get blotchy, Henry finds ways to comfort her while helping her move into her new home. I love the illustration of the kids playing telephone from their two houses.

[Jessie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Henry and Mudge books are adorable.

[Yasuko · Rating 2 out of 5]

2013.4.17 602words

[Kaethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry is a boyish boy, Annie is his hyper-feminine cousin. Seriously, if Annie weren't being raised by her father all on his own, I'd be puking Barbie pink.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a favorite!

[Cornelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry and his dog, Mudge, help cousin Annie move in this story. Intended for early readers, this has chapters and its illustrations support the story nicely.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories of helping each other out...Nudge is a great pal. My son gave it two thumbs up.

[Nicole C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry and his dog, Mudge, are back, and this time, they're helping his cousin Annie move. She will be moving right next door, and she's very nervous, so much so, that she's breaking out in hives at the thought of a new school and leaving her friends. Henry, with Mudge's help, calm Annie down by making her a blanket fort in the back of the car while everything else is in chaos.

This would be a good one for children to read who are moving, as it speaks to a real fear or anxiety that children can experience, and shows that everything will be all right in the end.