Customer Reviews

Henry

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Cooper isn't afraid to tell a sad story here--and the story wouldn't be sad if he hadn't first given us a something vivid and real and joyful to care about: a boy and his dog. True companionship runs through this book. The writing's spare but the feeling isn't. And the pictures are beautiful. A good gift for anyone who likes dogs or is thinking of getting a pet for their child.

When I read the first few pages it sounded sweet, than I got to page 31..."sex began to interest Henry too" and than it has a picture of a dog trying to hump a cow. Really?!?!!? Kids book? Unfortunately, I was reading it aloud to my 5 & 8 year olds. It is the first time I wished my child didn't know how to read.

I was shocked as I heard my wife reading this out loud to our young baby.

Page 31: Sex began to interest Henry too. In May he jumped his mother, who barked, and my leg when I wasn't watching, and a cat , who scratched him, and the goats .....

At first I thought that this was some bad joke that someone had played on my wife..... wrong.

This author has a very different and twisted sense of what is appropriate for young children.

I will make sure that my child never reads or is read to from anything originating from this author.

nick russo

Cooper's style comes though again in this delightful narrative. His stories are true...and truly spoken in a plain yet poetic voice. As I read about Henry I was touched by this story of the life of a beloved pet--a story which in turn easily tells the story as well of a reflective young boy who grows up alongside his dog, and who must come to terms with changes in his life and his dog's life. The watercolor illustrations reflect the peaceful, rural environment in gorgeous color, and these illustrations themselves inhabit a peaceful setting--it's a beautifully designed book.

For anyone who has shared a bond with a pet, "Henry" is for you. It brought back memories of all the creatures I grew up with. I thought the illustrations were wonderful. Once again, Cooper has brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face.

What a wonderful surprise! I had not heard of Elisha Cooper (or Henry) before and am so pleased that I received it as a gift. The sparse prose is a perfect compliment to the simple watercolors. And both blended into what was, for me, almost a musical meditation about owning, loving, and losing a best friend. I would highly recommend the book to anyone who has owned, or who is thinking about owning, a pet.

I bought this book to read to my daughter. What I didn't know when I bought it was that the subject matter of the book would be so compelling for me too. The book is a touching account of the feelings a boy has for his dog, and of the many entertaining experiences they have together (I did a lot of the same things with my rabbit). I was quite moved by the storyline, which was as good as the illustrations, which were themselves beautifully done. What I liked particularly about the book was that it deviated from the saccharine-sweet storyline of many a childrens book to describe the connection people can feel to their pets, and the emotional pain they inevitably feel upon losing them. While I thought the book's message was real, and sad (sad for me; my daughter didn't seem to mind it), I felt on balance that it offered the kind of message I want my daughter to hear: Life is often difficult, but that's what makes it worthwhile. I whole-heartedly recommend this book for adults and children alike.

I am a big fan of animal stories and Henry was a delight! I liked the loose drawing style and think it's perfectly suited not only to the puppy love we expect to find in the story, but also the lighthearted thoughts the author slips in for adults reading to their kids. I didn't expect it to sing out to me like it did, but it did. A great read and a great find!

Reading Elisha Cooper's book "Henry" brought back vivid memories of my relationship with a dog who shared my world for 12 years. I think the book is beautifully written and illustrated and has the magic of conveying the feelings of such a bond.

"Henry" was a great disappointment to me -- particularly after reading the publisher's comments. It was anything but heartwarming. Cooper created charming watercolor pictures. He should have let someone else write the story. He seemed to feel about as much affection for that dog as he would have if it had belonged to a neighbor. There was no real story -- it was more like a collection of disjointed memories. Throughout the book, the narrator seemed to be removed from his memories. If the writer can't get across his own emotion, how can the reader be expected to feel anything? I had hoped to save this book and read it to my son as he grew. Instead, I'll give it away to someone, although I'm still not sure who might want it.