Kirkus Reviews

Rylant (Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers, 1998, etc.) slips into a sentimental mode for this latest outing of the boy and his dog, as she sends Mudge and Henry and his parents off on a camping trip. Each character is attended to, each personality sketched in a few brief words: Henry's mother is the camping veteran with outdoor savvy; Henry's father doesn't know a tent stake from a marshmallow fork, but he's got a guitar for campfire entertainment; and the principals are their usual ready-for-fun selves. There are sappy moments, e.g., after an evening of star- gazing, Rylant sends the family off to bed with: ``Everyone slept safe and sound and there were no bears, no scares. Just the clean smell of trees . . . and wonderful green dreams.'' With its nice tempo, the story is as toasty as its campfire and swaddled in Stevenson's trusty artwork. (Fiction. 6-8)"

ALA Booklist (Fri May 01 00:00:00 CDT 1998)

In the seventeenth Ready-to-Read adventure about Henry and his big dog, Mudge, they go camping with Henry's parents. In the first chapter, they prepare and pack, and Henry imagines the animals they might see, including, maybe, a scary bear. Then they set up camp, and Henry sees wonderful things, including a fish and a deer, a waterfall and a rainbow. In the last chapter, they watch the stars. Always, Mudge is there for Henry, to add to the fun and snuggle up safe and sound with him. Stevenson's warm, active illustrations extend the gentle words, the physicalness of the pet story, the sense of connection in a solitary place. (Reviewed May 1, 1998)

Horn Book (Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 1998)

Although nervous about meeting a bear on the annual family camping trip, Henry enjoys a safe outing that includes hiking, "sappy love songs" sung around the campfire, star gazing, and snuggling with his dog Mudge. The quiet story successfully captures the camping experience, and the illustrations feature attractive compositions, particularly the landscapes and night scenes.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2--Another success from Rylant and Stevenson. Their 17th visit with Mudge and Henry is full of the series' trademark warmth and gentle humor. Here, Henry, his parents, and the family's oversized pup embark on a camping trip. Henry's mother is the outdoorsperson. "She knew all about camping....Henry's dad didn't know anything about camping. He just came with a guitar and a smile." Stevenson's bright, glowing watercolors will delight readers, and they're sure to chortle over the picture of the jubilant dad with guitar in hand. In one chapter, Henry and his parents are linked physically as well as emotionally as they examine the constellations. Meanwhile, Mudge chews on a huge log, oblivious to the stars. "He couldn't get logs this good at home. Mudge loved camping." A shining addition to the series.--Suzanne Hawley, Laurel Oak Elementary School, Naples, FL