Henry and Mudge in the Green Time: The Third Book of Their Adventures

In this third book of the series (Henry and Mudge and Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble), Rylant's portrayal of the small Henry and his affectionate large dog is even better than before. When Henry and Mudge go on a picnic and Henry is stung by a bee, Mudge licks away his salty tears. When Henry gives Mudge a bath, he ends up having to dry both of them with a towel. And when Henry and Mudge play King of the Mountain, they pretend that Mudge is a dragon, and together chase away all pretenders to the throne. Late on summer days, when purple shadows mime their play, Henry and Mudge curl up under their magic tree and sleep ""together, on the green hill in their green time.'' Stevenson's pen-and-ink and watercolors sensitively embellish deftly-told stories about loyalty, love and innocence. Ages 6-8. (September)