Henry Works

Henry David Thoreau as a bear.

Author: D. Johnson Illustrator: D. Johnson Pages: 32 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Children's Books Published Date: 10/03/2004 Genre: Fiction - Picture Book HC Price: $15.00 Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 3-7 Read Aloud: 4+ Read Alone: 6+

Common Sense Note

Adult readers will recognize that Henry the bear is a fictionalized version of the famous Henry David Thoreau, author of Walden, or, Life in the Woods, and that the bear's experiences reflect those of the 19th century author. They will know as well that Thoreau's work was writing. Children may not have the historical context, but Johnson's appealing artwork and gentle story reproduce Thoreau's world in a way that is easy to grasp on an immediate level. The story offers a way to introduce to young children some of the insights that Thoreau gained from his time living in solitude very close to nature. There is also a readable map on the end papers to follow Henry's route around Concord.

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Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Marigny Dupuy

This fourth title in a series continues the saga of a most unlikely picture book subject, Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862), with the same aplomb as its award-winning predecessors. While Thoreau does not appear in an immediately recognizable guise, his quiet containment, clarity of focus, and relationship with the natural world reflect the man perfectly.

Johnson's extraordinary Cubist-style artwork and quietly told story reproduce Thoreau's world in a way that is easy to grasp and peaceful enough for bedtime. This is a beautifully rendered tale rich with historical, literary, geographical, and natural history references. Thoreau himself would surely approve of planting the seeds of wisdom in young minds.

From the Book
It is a misty, mizzling morning. Henry steps out the door and sniffs the air. It is a perfect day to walk to work.

Henry stops beside the pond to dig comfrey root. Channing walks by.

"Henry," he says, "you're not doing anything today -- come fishing with me."

"Not today," says Henry. "I'm walking to work." Henry puts the comfrey root in his hat and walks down the path. ...

"What IS your work? Channing asks.

"It's writing," says Henry. "I'm writing a book."

Plot Summary:

Henry the bear is simply walking to work in 19th century Concord, Massachusetts, but a walk with this acute observer is a slow and careful event. To some he appears to be idle. He stops to pick comfrey root, waters some milkweed flowers, collects pine needles, and notices that a fox poses a threat to a friend's chickens.

Along the way, he stops in on neighbors such as Emerson (Ralph Waldo), Mrs. Hawthorne (wife of Nathaniel), and Mrs. Alcott (spouse of Bronson). He helps Emerson with a woodchuck infestation, tells Mrs. Alcott to bring in her drying laundry because it will soon rain, and plants a strawberry plant in Mrs. Hawthorne's garden. This is quite an illustrious set of neighbors, but people are not Henry's focus. He is sharply attuned to the world of plants, trees, and natural phenomena such as the weather. When he arrives at his cabin he begins his work: writing.