How Many Candles?

Griffith, Helen V.

ISBN 10: 0688162592 ISBN 13: 9780688162597

Publisher: Greenwillow Books, 1999

Synopsis

Dogs, boys, cats, turtles, even gnats, do not age in quite the same way. But try explaining this to Alex the whippet! The all-knowing cat gives his canine friend a patient lesson in relative time in the animal kingdom--although Alex just wants to know how many candles to put on his best friend Robbie's birthday cake. One thing adds up for sure, though, this rib-tickling odd couple (now appearing in picture-book format) is sure to delight their growing legions of young fans!

About this title

About the Author:

Helen V. Griffith is the author of many award-winning books for children, including the Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book Georgia Music, illustrated by James Stevenson, and the ALA Notable Books Grandaddy and Janetta, Grandaddy’s Place, and Grandaddy’s Stars (all illustrated by James Stevenson). Helen Griffith lives in Wilmington, Delaware.

From Publishers Weekly:

The creators of Alex and the Cat bring back the canine-feline duo for a quirky tale that takes a half-hearted stab at explaining the relative life spans of humans and several animal species. Alex the dog has a cake with 10 candles for his master, Robbie, who is turning 10. When the cat observes that "Ten years in a boy is the same as seventy years in a cat," Alex frets that he may need to top the cake with 70 candles. He is further confounded by a turtle's comment that his kind can live to be 100 and that "Ten years to a turtle is eight years to a boy." The canine then wonders if he should remove two of the 10 candles so that eight remain. Kids may have trouble following the logic, especially when two gnats appear on the scene, prompting the cat to note that "Ten years to a boy is one billion years to a gnat." Though it all adds up to a rather random assemblage of comparisons (and readers never do view the birthday boy), Griffith does insert some funny asides, as when the cat discovers that, underneath the frosting, the cake "seems to be made of dog biscuits" and Alex responds, "Is that wrong?" Lamut's art also serves up some amusing images, including Alex's mental picture of the cat as a 70-year-old birthday celebrant sitting in a rocking chair, balloons tied to his cane. The ever-popular birthday theme may just be enough to override any confusion surrounding the candle count. Ages 5-up. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Greenwillow Books
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0688162592
• ISBN 13: 9780688162597
• Binding: Library Binding
• Number of pages: 24
• Illustrator: Lamut Sonia