Harry and the Lady Next Door - Gene Zion

Simple, humorous text with kid-friendly drawings.

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Book details

Author:Gene Zion
# of pages: 55
Publisher:HarperCollins Children's Books
Original Publication Date: 01/01/1960
Genre: Fiction - For Beginning Readers
Paperback: $8.99
Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Read Aloud: 4+
Read Alone: 6+

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the story produces the requisite suspense, but not enough to hold the interest of some children. However, the illustrations focus attention on interesting details.

Families can talk about what makes Harry such an appealing character. Can you think of other characters with a similar appeal?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

Consumerism:

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Violence

Sex

Language

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Amy Brotman

Harry the dog may not know much about music, but he knows what he likes. And he doesn't like the loud, high-pitched singing of the lady next door. After some not-so-subtle music lessons, which literally land Harry in the doghouse, he happens on a solution to his problem. Humorous, easy-to-read text and child-friendly drawings make this a fine choice for beginning readers.

Is it any good?

An I Can Read Book, divided into four chapters, HARRY AND THE LADY NEXT DOOR follows Harry's efforts to deal with a constantly singing neighbor. The chapter division allows for shorter or longer reading sessions and also provides a reading progression: The first three, shorter chapters lead up to the longer and slightly more text-heavy final chapter.

Harry books are perennial favorites with preschoolers, so parents will welcome a volume that builds on this popularity to encourage early reading. Still, readers who love Harry for being a real dog may feel that, in this outing, he comes a little too close to anthropomorphic behavior.

Another book to enjoy from the Harry series is Harry by the Sea. Beginning readers in love with dogs and words will also enjoy the Martha Calling, the first of the Martha books, by Susan Meddugh.