Good humor, warm personal relationships, and literary style are the trade-marks of this series. A colorful creature changes spots and colors as he tries to find a place in the zoo. Solid phonetic base, reliable sight-words, and child appeal are the hallmarks of this beginning to read book . McDonald, Megan Beezy Beezy and her best friend Merlin, who live in Florida, wait out a hurricane, find a dog, and make friends with a circus performer. A wonderful introduction to the entire series.
Later books are more difficult.
The easiest of this series, Play Ball combines reliable, phonetic text with a good plot, solid values, and a sports interest. This book introduces Henry and his dog Mudge. Their relationship and adventures in everyday life help us remember why children have pets. Other favorite titles are Henry and Mudge in Puddle Trouble, Henry and Mudge Take the Big Test, and Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat. The Parakeet Girl Emma tries several pets before she becomes best friends with her parakeet Henry, but she finds that friendship threatened when her brother Bruce buys an other parakeet.