Customer Reviews

Henry Builds a Cabin

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Henry, a sturdy looking bear wearing a large hat and workclothes, is building a cabin in the woods. He borrows an ax and cuts down twelve trees for framing, buys an old shed, takes it apart and uses the wood for the walls and floor. He builds a front door, finds two used windows and some old shingles for the roof. As he's building, friends stop by to look at the cabin and check on his progress. Emerson comments that it seems too small to eat in. "It's bigger than it looks," replies Henry and shows him his garden out back. "When it's finished, this will be my dining room." Friend, Alcott thinks the cabin will be too dark to read in, but Henry shows him a sunny spot right outside. "This will be my library." And when Miss Lydia shows concern that there won't be room for dancing, Henry shows her the pathway down to the pond, his grand stairway to the ballroom. On July 4th, Henry's cabin is finished and he moves in. He eats in the "dining room", reads in the "library" and dances in his "ballroom". When it begins to rain, he hurries back to his cabin, where in a very wise and amusing way he shows us that his new home is just perfect..... D.B. Johnson is back with a marvelous sequel to his award winning first picture book, Henry Hikes To Fitchburg, based on the life of Henry David Thoreau. His simple and inspiring text is sure to be a springboard to interesting and thoughtful discussions. What does a home really need, and how big does it have to be? Mr Johnson's creative and expressive, light-filled illustrations enhance the story beautifully, and capture the imagination. With an author's note at the end "About Henry's Cabin", to help fill in the details of how and why Thoreau built his cabin, its cost, and his two years living at Waldens Pond, Henry Builds A Cabin is an engaging and unique little treasure youngsters 4-8 shouldn't miss. "Most men appear never to have considered what a house is, and are actually though needlessly poor all their lives because they think they must have such a one as their neighbors have."

I'm 12 but I really like this picture book. I learned a lot about what Henry Thoreau was trying to do when he built a cabin by Walden Pond, and it was fun learning it through this book. The illustrations are funny and I like how Henry solves his problems. I also like Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, which is even funnier because Henry makes his friend learn a lesson in a funny way. I also recommend another great book about Henrey Thoreau, that especially girls of all ages will like, Louisa May and Mr. Thoreau's Flute. It talks about how Henrey Thoreau helped Louisa May Alcott learn to like the outdoors and learn to like writing. Henry's funny in that book too so I think readers will like it too.

What a delightful book! Based on Henry David Thoreau's time at Walden pond, this simple, direct little tale first recounts how and with what he built his cabin. By emphasizing Thoreau's skill and his use of recycled old house parts, the book enlivens his self-sufficiency and his critique of materialism.

The best parts are the three guests who interrupt Henry's work, each one suggesting some shortcoming in Henry's construction. The cabin is too small to eat or dance in, they suggest, too dark to read in. Each time, Henry beautifully and effortlesy turns these criticisms upside down. He patiently (and with quiet enthusiasm) explains that by living in nature he has annexed all of the space and sun and beauty around him. His cabin is the entire woods and the whole pond. Thoreau's individualism emerges through these confounding, whimsical dialogues.

D. B. Johnson, the author, conveys all of this in graceful, clear, subtle little exchanges. The talk is all quite concrete and easily grasped, so kids have no problem with the story. Yet Johnson's language also carries Thoreau's deeper meaning, in clever and refreshing ways.

The zestful, kinetic pictures provide rich pleasure. Click on the sample pages and see for yourself! Reminiscent of early cubism and of the figurative work of Kazimir Malevich, the illustrations divide the picture plane into coutless little segments. Johnson blends them pleasingly yet also uses them to demonstrate the wonder that every little corner of nature holds for the alert eye. In his fragments of the field of view, Johnson might include a butterfly, a squirrel, a rabbit, a cardinal or bluejay, rain drops, falling leaves, on and on. Trees and pond, sky and clearings all appear active, filled with spirit. Kids will love finding and noticing and searching, for these illustrations continually surprise: they make your eyes think! Pieces of nature intersect through the cabin windows, and the wonderfully broken view swirls around Henry and his visitors in a vivid depiction of our connectiveness to nature--one of Thoreau's central beliefs.

In sum, an efficient and expressive meeting of story, thought, and imagery.

We borrowed this book from the library and I must buy a copy for my 3yr old. He loves it. The illustrations are unique and so pleasing to the eye. They are a little abstract but not too much so you can't see what is being conveyed.

Henry builds a cabin but his friends doesn't think it's big enough. Henry says it's big enough for all kinds of things. In the end, you find out what the cabin is perfect for.

Delightful read and a sure bet for a Baby Shower Gift!

Henry Builds a Cabin is a delightful little book, that playfully riffs on themes from Henry David Thoreau's classic work "Walden, or, Life in the Woods." Henry decides to build a small cabin along the side of Walden pond, and his friends Emerson, Alcott and Lydia worry that it won't be big enough. He reminds them, gently, that there is space enough outside, and that we live narrow lives when we consider that we can only be at home when we are indoors and confined.

The illustrations are nice, a whimsical variation on cubist style. What is most impressive is how simply the story is told and how much of Thoreau's character and background and thinking the author is able to pack into just a few easy sentences. Johnson is clearly well-versed in Thoreau's background, and clearly admires him -- and at the same time treats his story with a light and silly touch that is very appropriate for a children's book. Highly recommended.

This book rocks. What else is there to say?

If you want your kid to see nature as a regular part of life -- and what else will make him/her want to take care of the planet? -- then buy this humorous and beautiful book about living without barriers between yourself and the outdoors.

Brilliant. Wildly angular pictures a plus.

I am surprised by the "baby-preschool" reading level listed for this book.
I suppose the simplistic nature of the sentence structure and story line renders it so. In fact, this book was the very first my son ever received- a gift sent from an uncle after he was born. My son is six and reading chapter books, but we still read this one (and all the Henry books) and it is still one of our favorites. The illustrations are unique and continuously fascinating. We are still finding little details in the art that make us smile or further our understanding of the story. I love that Thoreau's ideas can be taught to young children. I enjoy being reminded of them- not in the complicated carbonfootprintcarpoolpoliticallycorrectisthisrecyclableandinwhichbindoesitgo kind of way- but rather the very basic principles of our impermanence and relationship to a larger world outside our door. There is an"appendix" of sorts at the end. It lends a page to Thoreau and his cabin, listing the actual cost of the materials he used: a whooping $28.12 1/2 ( Thats right- don't forget the half penny). My first grader is drawn in by the "real story" now, but his intimate knowledge of the book and love of the bear, Henry, has feed his understanding of the deeper concepts.

If you love Thoreau, or if you don't know who he is yet, read this darling book.

My Grandson loved this book and had his grandpa help him buid a cabin of his own.

Having heard this book was based on Henry David Thoreau's life, I bought this book for my grandson. But the book is actually contrary to Thoreau's ideals. Thoreau's ideas are inspiring in saving our world today, which is getting buried in a moutain of non-needed commodities. Thoreau supported conservation and opposed anti-environmental practices such as fashion. In the child's book the bear Henry tries to build a simple house but does it all wrong; the little house is terribly too small. Thoreau showed how a person could live consuming little. This book laughs at a childlike figure who tried that. It would be better to read "Walden Pond" and tell the child about Thoreau's ideas than to buy this book for the child. One can only say it's based on Thoreau's life if you entirely ignore his ideas and focus only on the fact he physically built a cabin by a pond. When my father (a lawyer like me) died, he had one book in his briefcase--"Walden Pond" in paperback. It is a treasure, and, sadly this book is like a mockery of the book and a mockery of the childlike bear who tried to accomplish something.