Henny Penny (Clarion books) [Hardcover]

Paul Galdone (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Clarion books

Convinced the sky is falling, Henny Penny and a band of gullible friends march off to tell the king, only to meet their end at the hands of a wily fox.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A favorite nursery tale delightfully illustrated in strong line and color in Galdone's familiar and likable style." Booklist, ALA

About the Author

Paul Galdone was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1907 and emigrated to the United States in 1928. After finishing his studies at the Art Student League and the New York School of Industrial Design, Mr. Galdone worked in the art department of a major publishing house. There he was introduced to the process of bookmaking, an activity that was soon to become his lifelong career. Before his death in 1986, Mr. Galdone illustrated almost three hundred books, many of which he himself wrote or retold. He is fondly remembered for his contemporary style, bright earthy humor, and action-filled illustrations, which will continue to delight for generations to come.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (July 13, 1979)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395288002
• ISBN-13: 978-0395288009
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 10.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,223,382 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Modern Fowl Escape Danger Version, June 9, 2005

By 

Pam Tee "Busy Mom" - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Henny Penny (Paperback)

Henny Penny by Paul Galdone is not your modern PC story and perhaps that is why it is on my enter-kindergartener's Summer Reading List.

Henny Penny, Cocky Locky, and the rest of the credulous crew are in the end, consumed by Foxy Loxy and his family. This last is the one addition that Galdone makes: a more personable approach to the fox. He was only feeding his family.

Henny Penny is an old classic fairytale. Like many old tales it contains lessons and opportunities to teach. Besides the lesson that one ought not to take things at face value, all of the names (Loxy Foxy, Goosey Loosey, etc.) rhyme which give the beginning reader the opportunity to see that names that are spelt similarly, sound similarly.

Buy this if you want the classic version for your child's library.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Definitive Henny Penny, July 14, 2006

By 

A.Trendl HungarianBookstore.com "What should ... (Glen Ellyn, IL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Henny Penny (Paperback)

Hungarian-born New York artist Paul Galdone created the definitive version of a famous children's tale. "Henny Penny," as presented here, is the one anyone in their mid-40s or younger will know.

The dramatic call "The sky is falling!" and the frantic gathering of friends to tell the king that some kind of barnyard armageddon has hit begins the story. Henny, not realizing an acorn bounced off her head, overreacts. Presuming the worst, she takes on the responsibility of being the bearer of bad news.

With bold brush strokes and rich colors, the classic adventure brings together the feathered friends of Cocky Locky, Ducky Lucky, Goosey Loosey, Turkey Lurkey with Henny, and the very mischievous Foxy Loxy.

Paul Galdone's ample use of two-page spreads display the excitement as Henny meets one bird after another.

I fully recommend "Henny Penny" by Paul Galdone.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

17 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Henny Penny needs some worky lurky, March 7, 2004

By 

E. R. Bird "Ramseelbird" (Manhattan, NY) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Henny Penny (Paperback)

NOT to be confused with the tale of the little red hen. Weve all heard, at one time or another, the tale of silly Henny Penny. Hit on the head by an acorn the silly chicken is convinced that the sky is falling. Running to tell the king she meets up with a range of different avian types until finally coming to crafty Foxy Loxy. This 1968 creation undoubtedly won many a supporter back in its day. A classic story, it deserved a classy set-up. Unfortunately, the book has not aged as well as it might have. Illustrator Paul Galdones story is a bit dull for a while, and then it suddenly becomes a little shocking at the end. In true fairy tale fashion, Foxy Loxy and his brood have a fine feast from their silly feathered friends. Theres nothing particularly gratuitous about this. You dont see Henny Penny & Friends actually eaten. Nor are there any leftover remains when we view the parting shot of Foxy Loxy and his family. On the other hand, children who (for whatever reason) have grown attached to the silly birds arent going to enjoy the black page that simply reads, From that day to this Turkey Lurkey, Goosey Loosey, Ducky Lucky, Cocky Locky, and Henny Penny have never been seen again. I dunno. Maybe Im being too modern. If the children of the late 1960s could take this book, shouldnt we assume our kids can today?

Perhaps. On the other hand, theres no getting around the fact that the book is (forgive me, but it is true) not particularly well illustrated. Its not badly illustrated, mind you. Just the same, the pictures arent anything to crow about. Theyre flat. Colored occasionally in red, green or yellow. The three color palette may suit some, but it does grow a little wearisome to the wandering eye. If youre dead set on introducing your kids to the tale of Henny Penny, I suggest you seek out other more entrancing versions of this tale. For all its age and maturity, this is a simultaneously dull and shocking book to be reading the kiddie set at night.