Several themes are present in the book. Students can pick a theme to explore and should support their choice with specific details or events from the text. One prominent theme is “friendship”. Henry and Mudge become great friends. They learn how much they really care about each other when Mudge gets lost. They learn that they never want to feel like they’ve lost each other again.
Example 1
Mudge can't find his way home and Henry can't find Mudge. They are both very sad and miss each other, just like friends do.
Example 2
Henry and Mudge are happy when they see each other every day.
Other themes that can be explored are: responsibility, pets, problem-solving, companionship, family, life lessons, and loyalty.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that identifies a theme in Henry and Mudge. Illustrate examples and write a short description below each cell.
Gather your class and ask open-ended questions about what friendship means and where they’ve seen examples in their lives. Encourage students to share their own experiences before relating them to Henry and Mudge. This fosters connection to the theme and primes their thinking for deeper analysis.
Read key passages aloud and invite students to point out words or actions that show friendship. Jot these on the board as a class. This helps students practice citing evidence and reinforces close reading skills.
Demonstrate each step of the storyboard assignment using a projector or chart paper. Choose a theme, find three examples, and draw quick sketches. This gives students a clear, visual example to follow.
Circulate around the room as students work on their storyboards. Offer prompts or suggest scenes if anyone is stuck. Praise creative ideas and encourage students to add details to their drawings and descriptions.
Have students present their storyboards to the class or in small groups. Lead a reflection on how different examples show the same theme in unique ways. This builds confidence and reinforces multiple perspectives on literature.
Henry and Mudge explores themes like friendship, responsibility, companionship, family, loyalty, problem-solving, pets, and life lessons. Each theme can be identified through character actions and events in the story.
Ask students to find examples of friendship in the story, such as when Henry and Mudge miss each other or are happy to be together. Have them discuss or illustrate how these moments show the importance of caring for friends.
Engage students by having them create a storyboard, list examples of a chosen theme, and illustrate scenes from the book. They can also write short descriptions explaining how each example supports the theme.
Understanding themes helps young readers connect stories to their own lives, build empathy, and develop critical thinking. It encourages deeper reading beyond just plot details.
An example of responsibility is when Henry learns to take care of Mudge and worries when Mudge is lost, showing he understands the importance of looking after a pet.