Customer Reviews

Andrew Henry's Meadow

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I remembered this book from childhood, and when I was casting about for a gift for my young niece, I flashed on this. While it's true that this book might be better received by boys, what child can't help but be entranced by Andrew's Rube Goldberg-style houses and inventions? It wasn't until I reread it after buying it that I saw the logical fallacies in the story (for example, what did they eat in the meadow? and, since the whole story takes place in four days...well, let's just say that Andrew Henry is quite the engineer and contractor to build all those houses in such a short time).

But that's nitpicking, isn't it?

This is a fun story of 'misunderstood' youth and the families that love them. Great fun and highly reccommended.

PS> It occurs to me that there's no real synopsis of the book listed here, so I'll describe it in a nutshell. Andrew Henry is a young 'inventor' whose inventions drive his family to distraction. Feeling unloved, he sets out for a place where he can do as he pleases. After he finds the meadow of the title, he builds a house for himself, and is soon joined by several other children. Everyone gets their own house, and there's a happy ending.

As children, my brother and I never tired of this book as a bedtime story. The detailed pen-and-ink drawings were enough to lose yourself for hours, but the writing is also magical in its simplicity. Even the secondary characters are given a full life. I have used this book for classroom projects for the past ten years as a third grade teacher. It can be about such heady topics as belonging, self-confidence, independence, acceptance and family love or about seemingly simpler concepts such as architecture, friendship and dreaming. Althougb I have memorized the text, I desperately need my own copy as I gave my only one away to a friend's children years ago, before I realized that it was out-of-print.

This wonderfully illustrated book inspires and rekindles the imagination for anyone. Young Andrew Henry decides to run away from home one day; he takes his carpenter's set travels for a few hours and eventually he rests in a meadow. Andrew builds his house, then as other kids arrive at the meadow, Andrew builds their houses too. Andrew designs/builds each house for the kids to suit their hobbies. A bridge house with paddle wheels and sail boats, a tree-house with bird cages, anything you could imagine - he builds it. I remember having this book read to me when I was only 4 (27 years ago), reading it myself when I was 6 and reading it to cousins, nieces, nephews over the years. The book is out of print now (I gave my last copy away over 10 years ago). If you ever find it - it's a keeper! As a grown-up kid you could almost think the message may be "No matter how different we all are, we can all live together".

This story piqued the interest of my 9-year-old grandson who claimed a disinterest in reading. He could relate to the inventiveness of Andrew Henry as well as the feeling of rejection for his uniqueness. He characterized the book as "hilarious." I used to read this book to my son (now 40 years old) and my 3rd grade students. It has maintained its relevance over the years. I highly recommend.

Andrew Henrys Medow inspired me to create. He made his own world one that had a little piece in it for everyones love and intrest. As a child this book and its pictures became blueprints in my mind. I think that I learned to appreciate Architecture because of this book. Seems that I'm one of the lucky ones because I have all of the Doris Burns books and treasure them with my sons...hopefully one will become an architect someday and build a great treehouse for his mom.

All the other reviewers have said it all before me, so I shall not repeat things again. All I can say and add is that I LOVED this book as a child and I LOVE reading it to my boys now! It has really stood the test of time like her other classic "The Summerfolk", which I also highly reccomend!

I happened uponthis book while on vacation near the author's home. I found it delightful with an engaging story and pictures that can be examined over and over again. My son shared this book with his first grade class and the teacher called me to ask if she could keep it for a while to read to the other first grade sections. She raved about the book saying, "It is perfect for first graders". My only quibble about the book might be some mild sterotyping about what boys do vrs what girls do (boys build and fish, girls watch birds and play music)

As a child my husband got into his father's tools and fixed the door knobs and his mother's vacuum cleaner. Like Henry, he had two older sisters, and unlike Henry, only one older brother, and he did not mind being alone because he was always working on things.

My husband had mentioned this book before, and how about he used to tell his other classmates to read it because it was such a good book. He checked it out from the school library frequently. I ordered a copy and quickly read through it realizing why he liked the book so much: he was just like Henry, and now I live in his meadow, lol.

If you know a child inclined to work that is hands-on or making their own place, I am sure that they will enjoy this classic book. The illustrations are very endearing in that 1950's style. My husband thought it was the goldmine among his more expensive anniversary gifts this year.;P

I have loved this book since I was very little. There is something in it for everyone to love. Non-readers love the illustrations. Bigger kids love the freedom of reading. Adults appreciate the well-written story and fantastically illustrated pages. And who doesn't love imagining living in a world of children and forts? Now that I'm a parent and reading this book to my children I feel transported to my childhood! I buy stacks of this book and give them as gifts whenever I can to boys and girls. You can really enjoy this story over and over again.

About 15 years ago I scoured my local library in search of this book. It is the only book from my childhood that I have actively sought as an adult, and after having read all 50 reviews thus far posted here it is clear it was a favorite of many, enough to send them on similar scavenger's hunts. Not recalling the title or author, my only search image to go on was that it had a limey green hardcover, about 9" x 12", and I swore that the cover picture was of a boy walking away from the reader down a fence line, his footprints visible in the tall grass he was walking through, a tall canopy tree on the left side. Having only just submitted my order I can't wait to find this picture somewhere in the beginning of the book. I also can't wait to see all the other illustrations I spent so many hours pouring over - my imagination on fire. I ordered 11 copies (1 original and 10 new to give away).