No Roses for Harry! (1958)

No Roses for Harry! is part of a series of books featuring the “white dog with black spots”. It was published in 1958 and I think my (taped & well-worn) copy of this charming tale was printed then.

Harry receives a gift from Grandma: a green sweater with yellow roses. He doesn’t like it much and tries to lose in a department store, to no avail. despite his cleverness trying to disguise the sweater in the spots he leaves it.Then a bird unravels a loose thread and takes Harry’s sweater to build a nest. When Grandma comes to visit, Harry doesn’t have his sweater! But Harry’s story has a happy ending – of course. Zion’s story is delightful.

What is it about Margaret Bloy Graham’s drawings? In this book, they’re line drawings with two colors- in this case, the green & yellow that are in the sweater. But what a use of those two colors! A house with windows with curtains and plants, clothes on the line, a toy truck, the sun, the trees, the other dogs, all in green & yellow. But the pictures are far from boring; they are full of detail while seeming simple.

I love reading about Harry’s antics and looking at the house & town that Graham brings to life. Maybe I can’t be objective about Harry so I’ll only give this 4 stars. But then I’ll add another half for the sheer nostalgia. 4½ stars

Written by: Gene Zion
Illustrated by: Margaret Bloy Graham
Published by: Harper & Row, NY 1958 ( )

This book always makes me laugh! I loved how Harry wants to get rid of the sweater his grandmother gave him but he constantly gets in trouble for doing so. This relates to so many young children as their grandparents give them things they do not like! I always remember feeling bad for Harry! ( )

This book really made me laugh! The story is told well, and is simple enough for my two year old to follow, but complex enough for it to be fun and interesting for me. ( )

Have you ever received a gift you didn't like?? Well, Harry finds himself in just this predicament when Grandma gives him a cozy and snug sweater...with roses on it!! What's a dog to do? This is a favorite series with young children. ( )

Harry, of "Harry the Dirty Dog" fame, is insistent on his dislike of grandma's new gift of a coat. His distate for this particular coat seems to be its distinct pattern of roses. After trying to lose it in various and many ways, Harry's loss is a bird's delight. Eventually grandma and the kids all are happy and Harry gets a coat that is more to his taste and liking. A sweet short story with excellent illustrations.