HENRY and mudge and the bedtime thumps.

Henry and Mudge #9

by Cynthia Rylant

Henry worries about what will happen to his big dog Mudge during their visit to his grandmother's house in the country.

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

Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

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

[Jonathan Brat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a lot of fun working through this. I scored a 100% on my AR reading quiz, and earned 5 more points toward the grand prize trip to go see Over The Hedge 2 in theaters with Ms. Jensen.

[Annie ⚜️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really disappointed that this Henry manifests his anxiety by biting on his nails. I really didn't want my son reading that as it's something he always already does and I wish he wouldn't. Otherwise, this is just a delightful series with charming, colorful illustrations and fun little adventures.

[Emma · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nail biting is seriously so disgusting 🤢

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a little sad because of the separation of Henry and Mudge.

[Le Maistre Chat · Rating 4 out of 5]

First appearance of Henry's grandmother (on which side?). Henry spends the car trip to her house in anxiety that Mudge will be forced to sleep outside, a fear that comes true. Henry is scared to sleep in a guest room alone, because Mudge won't be there if he's attacked by a bear or a moth. A moth does show up and Henry opens the front door, going to sleep on the porch with Mudge.
I like when Rylant validates socially unacceptable emotions a young child might feel, like not wanting to stay in a relative's house with the corollary of having to obey her rules instead of the familiar ones at home, but showing Henry biting his nails as a coping mechanism may be going too far. My daughter doesn't do that and I wouldn't want her to start because of Henry.

[Deb Zuger Lyons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family Favoritee

Henry and Mudge books are family favorites, we love them all. Sweet, endearing characters and wonderful age-appropriate subject matter that bring smiles and a love of reading!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry is worried that Mudge will not behave at his grandmother's house, she won't like the dog, and then he will have to sleep outside alone. He is mostly accurate. When he is in bed and worried for Mudge, he goes outside and sleeps with him on the porch.

[Hailey Licata · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a dog lover, so this book was adorable! The simile of the dog being like an elephant in a telephone booth, it helps prompts kids to think in a creative manner. The sense of love, courage and not wanting to be alone is adorable. I am 20 years old, and feel this exact way about my two dogs.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these books.Im not sure I enjoy the message of this one as much as others, but it makes up for it with really sweet illustrations.

[The Book Box]

Mom and I read this before bed the other night.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adjusting to bedtime at grandma's means Mudge cannot sleep inside. As with all of these books, Henry and Mudge find a simple and sweet solution.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

We love Henry & Mudge

[WinterBat · Rating 5 out of 5]

The loving bond between Henry and Mudge is apparent in this story

[Karol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story reminded me of me and my dog.

[Tori Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps" by Cynthia Rylant is a heartwarming addition to the beloved "Henry and Mudge" series. In this charming tale, young Henry and his faithful canine companion, Mudge, encounter a mysterious sound that keeps them awake at night. As they embark on a whimsical adventure to discover the source of the noise, they encounter unexpected surprises and learn valuable lessons about bravery and friendship along the way. Rylant's gentle prose and endearing characters make for a delightful read-aloud experience that young readers will cherish. With its relatable storyline and charming illustrations by Sucie Stevenson, "Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps" is sure to captivate the hearts of children and parents alike.

[TJE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really likes Henry and Mudge books currently. Has fostered an even better relationship (more gentle) with our pup.

[Madison Dick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and easy read for children about a boy who doesnt want to be seperated from his dog.

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little One asked for this one by name! It's one of his favorites. Poor Mudge. He's just a big dawg.

Five stars.

[Shannon D · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps, Henry and Mudge are going to visit grandmother. The whole drive there, Henry was worried about different problems he may encounter concerning Mudge. When they finally got to the grandmother's house, she was very excited to see both Henry and Mudge. Henry's grandmother's house was kind of small and Mudge was big, so he ended up knoicking a lot of stuff onto the floor. After he had knocked three things off of the table, Mudge was put outside. A little while later, Henry went out to play with Mudge. Henry's father called Henry in when it became dark outside, but he did not call in Mudge. He told Henry that Mudge had to sleep outside.Henry was very frightened to be without Mudge, and when a moth flopped around in the bedroom, Henry ran outside to where Mudge was. Henry ended up sleeping outside, under the table with Mudge. When the moth, from the bedroom, flew by, Mudge ate it.
This book is most suitable for children in pre-k to kindergarten. The book suggests that it is a "reading together" book, which most likely means that a child may need a parent to help with one or two words or a topic that is presented to that child. The art medium that is used in this book could be marker or pencil, then colored in with crayons. The pictures are very cartoonish, but they depict real-life objects. This book would be a great recommendation for children that are just starting to learn to read. The vocabulary and the plot are both simple. The problem that is presented to the reader is most likely a problem that many children have or are dealing with.

[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!!

[Jasmin Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps is a story about Henry and Mudge's trip to grandma's house. The entire trip, Henry worries about Mudge and how he will behave at grandma's and if he'll have to sleep outside due to his size. Unfortunately, because grandma's house is so small Mudge keeps knocking stuff over forcing Henry's dad to put Mudge outside, leaving poor Henry to sleep alone. Henry worries about poor Mudge outside but his biggest worries are figuring out what's scaring him. Ultimately, the story ends with Henry and Mudge sleeping outside together under the bench on the porch.
Though these books are intended for reading together, I believe these books would be great chapter books for readers who are beginning to branch out.

[Chelsey Stotler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry and Mudge spend a night at Henry’s grandmas house in the country. This is a new atmosphere for the two friends. Henry is worried that Mudge may not behave and will have to sleep outside alone. Another great story of everlasting friendship. This story hit home for me. I used to visit my grandma and grandpa on their farm when I was a young girl. I did not have a dog to bring with me, but I did experience a new atmosphere when spending the night somewhere other than my own bed. This was always a treat for me. Some how Henry and Mudge stories always have a way with taking me back to my childhood.

[babyhippoface · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a big fan of Cynthia Rylant's Mr. Putter & Tabby and Poppleton series. They are gentle and fun, with a bit of cleverness thrown in. This is the first Henry & Mudge book I've read, and it follows the pattern of fun and gentle humor.

Henry is going to visit his grandmother, who has never met Mudge. Have I mentioned Mudge is LARGE? Well, he is. LARGE. Henry's worried Mudge will drool on his grandmother, or upset her in another way, and will have to sleep outside. Mudge has never slept outside before. Can he handle it? Can Henry handle it?

I wholeheartedly recommend these books alongside the other wonderful series by Rylant.

[Tobinsfavorite · Rating 3 out of 5]

But why, why, why?????? are there no seatbelts in any of the cars in any of these books? I have bee liking this series for my early reader, and he loves them, and I've grown to really like the art, but Henry never wears a seatbelt in any of the pictures. He rides around, lounging in the back seat, like we always tried to do and my mother never let us. (I've been told that my mother was ahead of her time in the 80's, but I don't believe it.) This one is a 1991 book, so it's not as if kids in that time weren't supposed to be buckled in.

Soapbox down.

[Lauren Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps highlights a boy named Henry and his best friend Mudge who is a dog who are going on a trip to go visit grandma. Henry is all worried that Mudge is going to have to sleep outside in the unknown country yard. Henry and Mudge end up spending the night together sleeping outside after all the adventures they had during the day. This is a realistic fiction story. This story is appropriate for first to third grade readers. This story is a J level book.

[J9 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book my 6 yr old loved, a little old for my preschoolers. A solid reading level 2 book, this reader has a good amount of advanced vocabulary words, but not so long that it discourages a new reader. Used it for his read out loud book, which was perfect. It took about 20 mins for him to read and had just enough new vocabulary words to make it challenging. Also, it was a fun and interesting story he could get into. He liked it so much, he asked for more by this author. Great reading book!

[Gabriela Cano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great transitional book for children, the words were easy to see and understand and not much use of big words. The book is also small enough for children to hold in their hands to read on their own as well as pictures to help with the story. I would use this book as an individual read for children who want to explore more books and continue on with their reading and also this book looks like a chapter book which children love to read.

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple chapter book where Henry and Mudge his dog go to Grandma's house. Henry is worried that Mudge will make a bad impression and be forced to sleep outside.

The pictures are cartoon, pastel, water color.

This is a simple story designed for early transitional readers. The love between the dog and boy are evident and may appeal to young animal lovers.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun book in the "Henry and Mudge" series. Henry and Mudge and Henry's parents are visiting Henry's Grandmother in the country. Henry worries that Mudge might not behave and might get sent outside to sleep. Still, the two friends will find a way to be together.

[Amber Pangburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about how Henery and Mudge went on a trip. Henery was sad because Mudge had to sleep outside because Mudge was to big. I would use this in my class because it would show that you have to have close friends no matter where you are.