Henry and Mudge attend a family reunion where they meet 'a million relatives...with a million sloppy kisses.' Henry arms himself with a paper towel, but luckily the kisses are for Mudge. After playing with his favorite cousin Annie and having fun with his family, it's time to go home. The accessible text and easygoing watercolors will please Henry and Mudge's many fans.

K-Gr 3--Fans of Henry and Mudge won't be disappointed by this new adventure. Henry and his family are invited to a family reunion at Cousin Annie's house. Henry's father promises him lots of good things: meeting new relatives, hearing fun stories, and a million sloppy kisses. The boy is excited to go, but worries that his relatives won't understand Mudge and his dog drool. But to the boy's delight, the family is thrilled to see Mudge--he was built for sloppy kisses! Rylant writes in a straightforward, engaging voice, keeping the action simple but interesting. Beginning readers who need to take breaks will be pleased to have three separate chapters to read, but those who are ready can easily speed through the whole book. Stevenson's warm pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations add to the liveliness of the story; every relative has an individual character and personality. Cousin Annie is not just a "typical" girl. Her room may be decorated in pink lace, but she has a submarine game that wows Henry and no fear of Mudge, or what his dog drool might do to her pretty pink bed. Any child who has experienced sloppy kisses from a multitude of relatives will know just what Henry is experiencing.--Dina Sherman, Brooklyn Children's Museum, NY

Invited to a family reunion at Cousin Annie's house, Henry looks forward to meeting new relatives, but he begins to worry about whether they will like his dog, Mudge, as much as he does. Uppermost in his thoughts is this poignant question, Will they understand dog drool Soon after arriving, though, he finds that they not only adore Mudge but also treat the obliging dog to their own special greeting: sloppy kisses. Series fans will enjoy the reappearance of Henry's careful cousin Annie. Readers looking for a story with drama and conflict should look elsewhere, but those happy to spend a little more time with Henry and Mudge will find this a warm celebration of the extended family. (Reviewed Aug. 1997)