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Henry Hikes to Fitchburg |  |
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Henry Hikes to Fitchburg | |
With subtle nods at Thoreau and his real-life pals Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne (Henry's friend cleans out Mrs. Thoreau's chicken house, moves the bookcases in Mr. Emerson's study, and pulls weeds in Mr. Hawthorne's garden), D.B. Johnson cleverly introduces young readers to these important historical figures. No moralizing here, just a gentle, humorous look at the different paths each person may choose in life. Johnson chose a passage in Thoreau's Walden (the passage is included in the informative author's note) as inspiration for this delightful picture book, which Thoreau himself would probably be proud to read. (Ages 5 to 8) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Freelance illustrator Johnson models his striking debut on a passage from Walden, in which Thoreau advocates journeying on foot over buying a ticket to ride. Henry, a brown bear attired in a brick-red duster and wide-brimmed sun hat, is a kinder, gentler fellow than his cantankerous inspiration. His ursine friend, wearing town clothes and conspicuously toting a pocket watch, makes plans to meet him in Fitchburg, a town 30 miles distant. Spreads contrast the pair's respective travel strategies: on the left, Henry's friend does chores for unseen Mrs. Alcott, Mr. Hawthorne and Mr. Emerson to earn train fare; right-handed pages picture a leisurely Henry examining flora and fauna, admiring the view and excavating a honey tree as he strides toward his destination. At the end of the summer day, "His friend sat on the train in a tangle of people./ Henry ate his way through a blackberry patch." Johnson inventively demonstrates Thoreau's advice with kaleidoscopic illustrations in variegated colors and gently skewed perspectives that weigh fast-paced urban existence against an unmaterialistic life in the woods. Both bears make it to Fitchburg, but Henry's friend wears a blank stare, in contrast to Henry's bright-eyed, curious gaze. Johnson implies what money can and cannot buy, and encourages slowing down to experience nature. With graceful understatement, he presents some complicated ideas assuredly and accessibly. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 4-A nicely realized retelling of a short passage from Henry Thoreau's Walden. Henry and his friend decide to go to Fitchburg, a town 30 miles away. "I'll walk," says Henry, but his friend decides to work for the money for a train ticket and see who gets there first. Each subsequent spread marks their progress: "Henry's friend cleaned out Mrs. Thoreau's chicken house. 10 cents./Henry crossed a swamp and found a bird's nest in the grass. 12 miles to Fitchburg." The friend arrives first, barely. "'The train was faster,' he said." "I know," Henry smiled, "I stopped for blackberries." Johnson makes this philosophical musing accessible to children, who will recognize a structural parallel to "The Tortoise and the Hare." The author quotes Thoreau's original anecdote in his endnote. The two friends are depicted as 19th-century bears in the geometric, warm-toned, pencil-and-paint illustrations. Each picture is solidly composed, and although the perspectives may seem somewhat stiff and distracting up close, they work remarkably better from a short distance. The layout and steady pace, as well, make this suitable for storytime. The somewhat open-ended resolution could allow for classroom debate, and is also simply a good ending to a good story.
Nina Lindsay, Oakland Public Library, CA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
A Publishers Weekly Flying Start -- Review
This cheery first picture book, with appealing full-page pictures in colored pencil and paint, is a variation on the old cautionary tale about the tortoise and the hare. Two bear chums decide to make a trip to Fitchburg. Henry will hoof the distance (some 30 miles), while his nameless friend opts to work until he has "the money to buy a ticket to ride the train to Fitchburg." In leisurely fashion, Henry wades across the Sudbury River, presses ferns and flowers in the pages of a book he is carrying, walks atop stone walls, makes a raft to paddle up the Nashua River and, finally, within a stone's throw of his destination, stops to eat his way through a blackberry patch. Meanwhile his earnest friend works diligently-- moving books, filling woodboxes, sweeping the post office, pulling weeds, etc.-- in order to earn the necessary 90-cent fare to Fitchburg. Each bear achieves his goal, Henry losing the race but gaining a number of happy memories and a pail of blackberries for his train-traveling friend. Children will enjoy the slow-paced contest and probably bet on the wrong bear to win. A 2000 Parents' Choice® Recommended winner.
Reviewed by Selma G. Lanes, Parents' Choice® 2000 -- From Parents' Choice® --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
The New York Times Book review (10/5/00) (The New York Times Review of Books )
"An auspicious picture book debut." Horn Book (Horn Book )
"This splendid book works on several levels. Johnson's adaptation of a paragraph taken from Thoreau's Walden illuminates the contrast between materialistic and naturalistic view of life without ranting or preaching. . . . [The illustrations] demonstrate Johnson's virtuosic control of his craft" Booklist, starred review (Booklist, ALA, Starred Review )
STAR "A nicely realized retelling of a short passage from Henry Thoreau's Walden." School Library Journal, starred review (School Library Journal Starred )
A Publishers Weekly Flying Start (Publishers Weekly )
"A masterpiece . . .The finest illustrations I've seen in years and years and years." Daniel Pinkwater, NPR Weekend Edition (NPR Weekend Edition ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
