ALA Booklist (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

The latest addition to this series finds good friends Houndsley (a dog) and Catina (a cat) welcoming Houndsley's cousin Wagster for a visit. Wagster is ebullient where Houndsley is reserved, and seemingly more skilled at everything. Poor Houndsley feels nearly invisible, but when he admits his insecurities to Catina, she knows just how to reassure her bestie. In a final scene, the departing Wagster gifts the pair with extremely ugly, hand-knit hats, thus proving Catina's assertion that Wagster isn't best at everything. Howe's succinct text brims with humor and emotion, demonstrating that limited vocabulary texts can also be rich and well turned. Gay's airy watercolor, pencil, and collage illustrations bring out the story's absurdities and include many clever details. The final spreads, for example, pay tribute to the Do-you-like-my-hat? scenes from Eastman's Go, Dog. Go! (1961), a story that will be familiar to the intended audience. A satisfying homage to friendship and self-confidence, this will make a welcome addition to the easy-reader shelf, especially for series fans.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

Houndsley's and Catina's lives are turned upside down when over-the-top Cousin Wagster comes to visit and commands everyone's attention. In three short chapters, themes of friendship, self-confidence, and communication emerge slowly but thoughtfully, and the story has a satisfying resolution. Whimsical watercolor illustrations depict a human-like world inhabited by animals of all kinds.

Kirkus Reviews

In Houndsley and Catina's latest, Houndsley's globe-trotting cousin, Wagster, pays the two best friends a visit. From the moment he arrives, "razzle-dazzle" Wagster is all charm. Catina is immediately smitten after he pays her a compliment and regales her with stories of his travels. Houndsley, on the other hand, begins to feel increasingly invisible. Whether cooking scrumptious desserts or imitating famous movie stars, Cousin Wagster is good at everything! Houndsley wrestles with his feelings of inadequacy until he finally confronts Catina about it at their dance class. Catina responds in simile: Whereas Wagster is like the beautiful butterfly who flits around from garden to garden, Houndsley is like the butterfly that stays. Plus, Wagster's parting gift proves that he's not so perfect after all—and that's totally fine! Howe's ode to true friendship and the quiet pleasures of home combines sight words with more complex vocabulary and a few lyrical passages. The story is divided into three chapters, with ample leading between lines of text (which range from two to 15 lines per page). Gay's watercolor, pencil, and collage illustrations enrich the story with muted colors and repeated patterns. She excels at capturing small details and telling little stories within the larger one—a wonderful treat for this sparse text. As sweet as Houndsley's key-lime pie with whipped cream. More, please. (Early reader. 5-8)

School Library Journal (Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Gr 1-3 Houndsley and Catina are back for another adventure when cousin Wagster comes to visit. Unlike Houndsley, who is a rather quiet dog, his cousin Wagster is loud and full of stories and also seems to be good at everything. As Houndsley, Wagster, and Catina cook dinner, play Ping-Pong, and go on a picnic, Houndsley finds the fact that charming Wagster is good at everything a little disheartening. When Houndsley and Catina get some time away, Houndsley must find a way to tell Catina how he has been feeling a bit neglected and is worried about their friendship. Of course, Catina is sensitive to how Houndsley is feeling and reassures him that they are the very best of friends and nothing will change that. With three short chapters, this is a great book to transition independent readers from picture books to something a little more challenging. Even though it is on the longer side, this entry is still very engaging. Gay's delightful artwork, done in watercolor and pencil, adds a playful quality to the story and don't overwhelm the page, leaving plenty of space for the paragraphs of text. VERDICT Add this wonderful transitional book for newly independent readers to most collections. Jayna Ramsey, Douglas County Libraries in Parker, CO