Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps

Rylant, Cynthia. Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps. Illus. Sucie
Stevenson. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 1991.

In her realistic fiction story, Henry and Mudge and the Bedtime Thumps, Cynthia Rylant tells the story of a young boy named Henry and his dog Mudge as they travel to visit his grandmother out in the country. Henry worries that since Mudge is so big he will not be able to sleep inside the house with him and protect him during the night as he sleeps in this strange, unfamiliar house. As nighttime comes closer, Henry’s parents insist that Mudge sleep outside. Herny lay wide-awake in bed realizing that he cannot sleep without the company of his best friend Mudge. Instead of sleeping inside alone, Henry decides to sleep outside with the comfort of Mudge.
Rylant’s heart-warming story highlights the importance of friendship in times of distress. When Henry is scared, spending the night in this unfamiliar house, Mudge is there to comfort him. Henry also expresses concern for not only himself, but also for what will happen to Mudge alone outside. Stevenson’s illustrations accompany the text and the colors used reflect the feelings of Henry. When Henry is with Mudge, the colors are very soothing and light. However, when Henry thinks of being apart from Mudge, the colors shift to darker shades of purple, blue, and brown. The text is very simple and easy to understand as well as read. Children around the ages of seven to eight can enjoy reading this delightful tale of companionship.