Houndsley and Catina: Candlewick Sparks - Softcover

Delicate watercolors capture the delight of a wintry day, and Howe's on-target portrayal of friends who get along despite bumps along the way make this special.
--Booklist

These endearing characters shine in this gentle and reflective read.
--Kirkus Reviews

Gentle, whimsical humor.
--School Library Journal, starred review

Illustrations glow with warmth and good spirits...an encouraging book on overcoming fears.
--Booklist

The lively, brisk writing is wonderfully extended in Gay's airy watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, which keep the focus on the caring friends.
--Booklist

Published in beginning-reader format, this gentle story will appeal to children's compassion as well as their sense of humor. Though the setting is a cold, sometimes-bleak autumn, Gay's pencil, watercolor, and collage artwork glows with warmth, style, and quiet pizzazz. An appealing book for independent readers in the early grades, the story will also make a good fall read-aloud for preschool classes.
--Booklist

A warm, gently humorous, makes-you-smile-all-over depiction of best friendship...here's hoping there are more adventures ahead for this cat and dog duo.
--Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Read this with a beginning reader before that first beautiful and sometimes frustrating snow day.
--Chicago Tribune

A sweetly engaging story...energetic watercolors brim with personality and humor.
--Kirkus Reviews

This charming trio of chapters implicitly testifies to the adage that opposites attract.
--Publishers Weekly

Delightful . . . Marie-Louise Gay's watercolors are sweet and cheery.
--Scholastic Parent & Child

Gay's soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations with collage details are fun and lighthearted, and scenes are filled with activity and assorted sweet-looking animals. The ratio between text and pictures will appeal to new readers.
--School Library Journal

An animal tale both funny and wise.
--Washington Parent

Watercolor vignettes of cozy domestic interiors give way to expansive snowy vistas... third entry in a series that calls to mind the enduring friendship between Arnold Lobel's famous Frog and Toad
--Washington Post

The subtle dance of friendship — from holding your tongue to knowing what to say — is played out in three sweetly humorous tales about an unlikely, likable pair.

Catina wants to be a famous writer. Houndsley is an excellent cook. Catina thinks Houndsley is a wonder. Houndsley thinks Catina is a very good friend. So what should Houndsley say about Catina’s seventy-four-chapter memoir? And can Catina find the right words of comfort for Houndsley after the big cooking contest fiasco? James Howe’s funny and endearing world of ginger tea, no-bean chili, and firefly watching is brought to life in cozy watercolors by Marie-Louise Gay in this tender chapter book about what it means to be friends.