Sunday, November 15, 2009
Book review: A dog's-eye view of nature at night
This is the fifth in the "Henry" series of books inspired by Henry David Thoreau's "Walden." At first glance one might think it's a comical story with a dog, Henry, as the main character. However, it is actually the author's attempt to re-create Thoreau's moonlit walks with a look at nature at night.
Henry can't sleep, so he sets off to find the whip-poor-will he hears in the night. The illustrations are fun and contribute to the mood of the story. The text is reminiscent of Thoreau but written to appeal to a child.
The complex illustrations include beautiful pastel drawings of a comical-looking dog. I found the combination of seriousness along with childlike charm captivating.
I always like to find literature for children that is beautiful and respectful of the reader. With a nod to "Walden," the authors have given children something elegant to read.
This is the sort of book that a child will want to read over and over.
