Caramba and Henry

by Marie-Louise Gay

Overview

Caramba’s little brother Henry is a nightmare. He won’t share anything, he squishes Caramba’s favorite caterpillars and he screams all the time. But the very worst thing about Henry is that he is learning how to fly — much to Caramba’s dismay — because Caramba is the only cat in the world who can’t fly.Now Caramba can’t keep up with Henry, who gets into all sorts of trouble. He tries to protect his little brother, but that only makes Henry unhappy. Finally, Caramba ties a string around Henry’s waist and lets him soar like a kite. But when Henry breaks free… Marie-Louise Gay’s beloved Caramba is back in this funny, sweet story about siblings.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554980970
Publisher:	Groundwood Books
Publication date:	08/13/2011
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	2 - 5 Years

About the Author

MARIE-LOUISE GAY is an internationally acclaimed children's book creator whose work has been translated into more than 20 languages. She has won many awards including two Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Vicky Metcalf Award for Children’s Literature, the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award and the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Picture Book Award. She has also been nominated for the prestigious Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. She lives in Montreal, Quebec.

Editorial Reviews

In his second adventure, Caramba, a zebra-striped cat who lives in a world where cats can fly, has always wanted a brother—but not the one he gets. Henry screams and cries all of the time and, unlike Caramba, Henry isn't having any trouble flying. To Caramba's chagrin, his mother puts him in charge of making sure Henry's fledgling flights don't end in disaster, but when Caramba attaches Henry to the end of a string, like a kite, Henry comes loose and flies off, requiring rescue. Gay's watercolors, laced with feathery pencil lines, bring warmth to this fresh spin on a story about learning how to be an older sibling. Ages 2–5. (Aug.)

Publishers Weekly

...well-written...a satisfying ending.

Booklist - Carolyn Phelan

...the story is great, the full page spreads absolutely breathtaking in their scope.

Pickle Me This

Gay is the reigning queen of Canadian picture books for a reason, and Caramba and Henry finds her doing what she does best...

Quill & Quire

Her playful humour and imagination take childhood's very real passions seriously, and at the same time translate them into a realm of charming lightness.

Toronto Star - Deirdre Baker

Gay is the reigning queen of Canadian picture books for a reason, and Caramba and Henry finds her doing what she does best...

Quill and Quire - Elisabeth De Mariaffi

•Toronto Public Library First and Best Booklist, 2011

"Gay puts many delightful quirks into a highly recognizable tale of sibling rivalry, and her singular illustrations–a delicate mix of watercolor, pencil, pastels and acrylics—are unique and captivating." —Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"… a heartwarming tale of love and bravery …" —School Library Journal

"…[a] fresh spin on a story about learning how to be an older sibling." —Publisher's Weekly

From the Publisher

K-Gr 2—Caramba bemoans the birth of his little brother in this sequel to Caramba (Groundwood, 2005). He at least thought that Henry would be like him, an oddball, a non-flyer, not like all the rest of the cats that fly. A bit of jealousy sets in with scenes of a pensive Caramba peering off a cliff, his dream of having, "A brother to collect caterpillars with./A brother who would love his cheese omelets" no longer viable. Reality hits when he rides his bike back home to the howling, screaming, yelling Henry hurling his cheese omelet, who is now learning to fly. His friend Portia tries to help. His mother, sympathetic but undaunted in her attempts at creating a bond between the two, asks Caramba to look after Henry as he is learning to fly, a dangerous venture for the felines in this fantastic, seaside world. After many attempts indoors and out, they go for a walk and practice flying with Henry attached to a line, like a kite. But with his wiggles and tugs, he slips away into the twilight sky. In the gentle but cinematic, whimsical, and expressive watercolor and pastel paintings, children venture along a heroic rescue and a change of heart. Told with poetic economy and fantastic details like, "He whirled his tail like a tiny egg-beater," this is a heartwarming tale of love and bravery prevailing over the slippery slope into sibling rivalry.—Sara Lissa Paulson, American Sign Language and English Lower School PS 347, New York City

School Library Journal

Little brothers can be soooo bothersome.

Kitten Caramba had wished for a brother for a long time, but not one like Henry. Henry squishes Caramba's favorite caterpillars, throws his cheese omelets out the window and screams all the time. Caramba's best friend, a pig named Portia, suggests that Caramba teach Henry how to purr,but Caramba rejects this plan; only contended cats purr. And then Henry starts flying! Caramba wanted to teach him to swim, but why would he want to swim when he can fly? As Henry is flying all around, mother puts Caramba in charge. Henry keeps getting tangled in clotheslines and scarves and suchlike. Neither butterfly net nor shopping bag is a good carrier. Then Caramba gets a brilliant idea (even Portia thinks so): She pulls Henry along like a balloon. This works well, until Henry wriggles free and flies away. Caramba and Portia search into the dark night and find him clinging to a small branch at the top of a tall tree. Caramba talks him down, and Henry utters his very first word: "Car-r-r-amba." Gay puts many delightful quirks into a highly recognizable tale of sibling rivalry, and her singular illustrations—a delicate mix of watercolor, pencil, pastels and acrylics—are unique and captivating. Her matter-of-fact text charms: "He whirled his tail like a tiny egg beater."

A gem. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews