Henry in Love: A Picture Book for Kids (Ages 4-8) About a Dreamer and One Blueberry Muffin

Henry in Love: A Picture Book for Kids (Ages 4-8) About a Dreamer and One Blueberry Muffin

Henry is a bit of a dreamer and not much of a talker.Then there's Chloe, who says what she thinks and knows how to turn a spectacular cartwheel. This is the story of how one blueberry muffin makes all the difference. Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 1—Henry the cat is in love with Chloe, the cute little bunny in the back row. On this particular day, his mother makes blueberry muffins for her sons to take for lunch, but Henry saves his for afternoon snack as a special treat. He is the typical little boy who is short on words but big on action. He does a forward roll to impress Chloe, but she bests him with an impressive cartwheel. Later, the teacher reassigns seats and Chloe moves up next to Henry. At snack time, she asks him what he has, and he shows her his big, beautiful blueberry muffin. Henry, who has yet to say a word to his favorite little girl, is surprised but pleased when Chloe thanks him and takes it. It seems that all is fair in love and kindergarten. McCarty's meticulous ink and watercolor art greatly extends the spare, understated text. The exquisite cream-colored pages bring richness to the presentation that makes readers want to turn each page. This beautiful book should appeal to the little ones who have a special someone in their lives but dare not say a word about it.— Joan Kindig, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. This slight story begins with a young cat, Henry, who wakes and dresses, walks to school with his brother and best friend, and then spends the rest of the day obsessing about, and wooing, Chloe, an adorable young rabbit. A textbook Romeo, Henry shows off his athletic ability, chases Chloe around the playground, and sacrifices his eagerly anticipated blueberry muffin snack for his beloved. Many boys will find this as unappealing as kissing (Henry doesn’t manage to seal that deal), although a brief football scene provides some distractions from the romance. In addition, the quiet story may prove too subtle for its intended audience. Still, McCarty’s delicately detailed ink-and-watercolor illustrations of anthropomorphized animals, set on open, creamy pages, are delightful, and children will recognize Henry’s happy surprise when an unexceptional day turns suddenly into an exceptional one. Grades K-2. --Andrew Medlar McCarty nails several aspects of grade-school life (Henry demonstrates his “best forward roll” to impress Chloe) and loads his compact sentences with meaning and longing. This gentle, pitch-perfect romance will have readers’ hearts thumping with the thrill of first love. - Publishers Weekly (starred review) This gentle, pitch-perfect romance will have readers’ hearts thumping with the thrill of first love. - Publishers Weekly (starred review) A perfect Valentine’s Day read and a fine picture book about love and friendship the rest of the year. Henry in Love not only illuminates the freshness of a burgeoning friendship in the elementary school set, McCarty’s light-handedness evidences an even deeper love for the ordinary world. - Boston Globe With precise figures placed in vignettes on a gorgeous creamy stock, McCarty tells a sweetly simple, utterly sincere schoolyard love story. - Kirkus Reviews All is fair in love and kindergarten....The exquisite cream-colored pages bring richness to the presentation that makes readers want to turn each page. This beautiful book should appeal to the little ones who have a special someone in their lives but dare not say a word about it - School Library Journal (starred review) Praise for MOONPLANE: “McCarty catches both the way children’s imaginations work and the connections they make.” - Booklist (starred review) Praise for MOONPLANE: “A must-buy.” - School Library Journal (starred review) Praise for HONDO AND FABIAN: “At once ingenuous and sophisticated.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review) Henry is a bit of a dreamer and not much of a talker.Then there's Chloe, who says what she thinks and knows how to turn a spectacular cartwheel. This is the story of how one blueberry muffin makes all the difference. Peter McCarty has written and illustrated several acclaimed books for children, including Chloe , which received four starred reviews, and Henry in Love , a New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year. He is also the author and illustrator of Hondo & Fabian , a Caldecott Honor Book and New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year, and its sequel, Fabian Escapes ; T Is for Terrible ; Little Bunny on the Mov e; and Moon Plane , a Charlotte Zolotow Award winner. Peter lives with his wife and their two children in Clinton Corners, New York, where they get lots of snow.