Henry Huggins (1950)

I don't know that I ever read much Beverly Cleary, but this is a really cute little book! It's about an average kid named Henry Higgins and his adventures around the town he lives in. There are six chapters, each containing a story about Henry:

1. Henry and Ribs - in which Henry finds a skinny mutt and attempts to take him home via public transportation
2. Gallons of Guppies - in which Henry buys two guppies, who end up NOT being of the same gender...
3. Henry and the Night Crawlers - in which Henry encounters a LOT of big worms
4. The Green Christmas - in which Henry tries to get out of the school's Christmas play
5. The Pale Pink Dog - in which Henry enters Ribsy into a dog contest
6. Finders Keepers - in which Henry's claim to Ribsy is threatened

They were all very cute and would make for great bedtime stories for kids—especially for boys who like dogs! ( )

An older book that has stood the test of time - funny with situations that kids this age can still relate to. My son and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it together. ( )

Cleary is known for her charming Ramona series, which brings to life a rambunctious girl, but she has a deft hand at capturing a young boy's perspective, too. The Mouse and the Motorcycle series, whose protagonist is Ralph S. Mouse, indicates her skill in that arena. This book features another boy, human this time - Henry Huggins. I had never read any of her Henry Huggins series prior to now, and am delighted to discover that she wrote another finely realized character.

The book begins with a meeting of boy and dog. Henry is on his way home, when he decides to adopt a skinny dog he finds on the street. He calls his mom for permission, and is told that as long as he can get the dog home on the bus, he can keep it. His mom is too busy to come get them. Unfortunately, the bus line has a rule: no pets unless they're in a box. Henry, the youngster that he is, decides an empty grocer's box will do, and is frustrated when the driver says nay. In a stroke of genius, he hides the dog in a shopping bag, piles paper over him, and hopes for the best. The worst occurs. Somehow Henry and the dog make it home, but only after knocking down everyone on the bus, scattering their possessions, and then being escorted in a police car. Still, he gets the dog home, so he can keep it. Henry dubs his new dog Ribsy, because he is so thin his ribs show through his skin.

The rest of the book regales the reader with more episodes like that of the first chapter. Henry is all enthusiasm and awkwardness. He embarks on adventures one would expect of a boy, such as saving money for a football, or entering his dog in a show. Often catastrophe ensues, not because Henry means any ill, but because he is young and still doesn't grasp all the consequences of his actions. He is a sweet boy, though, and while he may cause his parents a bit of frustration, everything comes out right in the end. I liked the book and could definitely read more about Henry. His expeditions are funny and innocent. They certainly remind me of the simplicity of childhood, and how things that I often overlook now were so important back then. Henry's character is engaging, and Ribsy is such a dog. Cleary has a knack for writing about children and animals. I'm excited to read the Henry and Beezus book, where characters from two great series will overlap. This story is a great choice for children and adults. ( )

From page one, with his gloomy outlook on life and case of third grade ennui, you can't help but love Henry Huggins. His extreme propensity for accidents, combined with complete obliviousness, firmly cement Henry as one of the most memorable characters from children's lit... at least as far as I'm concerned. I remember reading about him in grade school, wishing I had a friend like him, and asking my mom for pet guppies. She said no. Fast forward a few years and now I'm a mother identifying with my own and Henry's (I giggled every time the poor woman said, "Oh, Henry." and Henry asked, "What? It was an accident..."). I was so happy when I discovered there are a total of six books about Henry and Ribsy, a couple of which I haven't read. I can't wait to read them with my son soon, and again when he's old enough to ask for pet guppies. I already know what I'm going to say. ( )

Summary: This book is about a boy named Henry Huggins. He is always bored until one day he comes across a stray dog. He ends up naming this dog Ribsy because the dog is so skinny. This is when the adventure for Henry begins. He first has to try to get this dog home which presents many challenges for Henry. His adventures continue through the book and Henry is never bored again. Response: I loved reading this book especially for my love of dogs. Connection: Read Aloud; Kids would enjoy the humor in this book and would be able to relate to this book. Every kid loves animals and adventure! ( )