Customer Reviews

Henry the Explorer

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"Henry the Explorer" is a gorgeous picture book about an imaginative boy who, having read about polar explorers, takes his dog ("Laird Angus McAngus") and several flags with an "H" on them and sets out to explore the snowy town he lives in. Eventually he goes off into the woods, where he discovers a cave. Seeing some rocks shaped like a bear, Henry is frightened and runs outside. (There is much comic irony to this moment, as Henry is only frightened by rocks, while the viewer can see what he can't, that there are real though harmless-looking bears asleep behind the rocks!) Now it is dark, and a party of neighbors has been sent to look for Henry. In another comic twist, Henry goes around in circles while the search party follows in circles, and never the twain meet. Henry arrives nonchalantly home, and the search party shows up eventually to be welcomed in for coffee while Henry goes up to bed. There he reads about exploring the jungle, and we are left to wonder what ideas that will put in his head! My summary does scant justice to the beauty of the painted illustrations, the memorable images, the gentle humor, or the genuine excitement of this story. Kids will not forget it.

This book was a regular in our house when my brother, sister and I were young. Everything about it tickled us. We went on our own adventures in the great outdoors, exploring everywhere. Luckily I have been able to borrow it through inter library loan so I can share it with my children. It should be re released, and in the original form, no updated illustrations for this one!It is fine as is.

It's a shame this is out of print, as it's one of my most fondly remembered books from childhood. It inspired my brother and me to set out on our own neighborhood exploration when we moved to a new city--back in the day when a parent could let a six-year-old and a four-year-old roam suburban streets without worry.

Unfortunately, it must never have been widely read. I've never met anyone else who remembers it. That's a sad fate for such a good book.

I found out that Purple House Press will be releasing a new edition of this book and "Henry the Castaway" this fall! The Henry series were one of children's favorites, it will great to see them back in print!

This was one of my favorite books as a child, and when I recently read it for the first time in two decades I was just as enchanted by it as ever. The drawings are evocative, beautiful, and slightly melancholy, and the tale captures the simultaneous sense of security and adventure that make for a magical childhood.

Truly a remarkable book. It should come back into print.

My four-year-old son loves this book...has loved it since he was three. His six-year-old sister likes it too, though not with quite the same enthusiasm. She's more into 'princesses'. We had to buy 'Henry Explores the Jungle' too, and although we liked it too, this one was the best, we all think.