Henry Reed's Think Tank [Hardcover]

Keith Robertson (Author), Robert McCloskey (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up

When Henry and Midge set themselves up as consultants for the residents of Grover's Corner, they get into a lot of trouble themselves before eventually solving the problems presented to them.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6 Line your Henry Reed fans up for an up-to-date '80s adventure. Looking for a project that requires no investment, Henry takes a suggestion from his Uncle Al and, with his friend, Midge, forms a think tank. Their first client is an overweight neighbor, Rodney, looking for a way to gain the approval of his athletic dad. While they are pondering Rodney's plight, Deirdre appears, complaining that her allowance is much too small when her father could easily afford more. Twins Willy and Betsy seek relief from the health food regime that their mother has enthusiastically imposed. Also, a busy grandmother asks them to entertain her 16-year-old pseudo-sophisticate granddaughter for three days. The humor is up to Robertson's best, and even better; the solutions to the problems are realistic and clever, except perhaps for the health food dilemma which solves itself with a "Prince Charming" sort of tale. Although, sadly, McCloskey's illustrations are missing from this fifth in the Henry Reed series, the book stands on its own. It will be enjoyed by Henry's fans and will probably make some new ones. Candy Colborn, Cottonwood Creek Elementary School, Englewood, Colo.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 182 pages
• Publisher: Viking Juvenile; First Edition edition (October 23, 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670809683
• ISBN-13: 978-0670809684
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #797,997 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Henry Reed's Think Tank, March 14, 2004

By 

pelayath (Cerritos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henry Reed's Think Tank (Hardcover)

Title of the book: Henry Reed's Think Tank
By: Keith Robertson
Reviewed by: P. Elayath
Period: 1

This book is an excellent book for anybody. Henry lives in Italy, but he comes to the U.S.A for the summer to live with his Aunt and Uncle. His best friend, Midge, is the same age, and she is a lot like Henry(which is how they came to be friends). When they decide to start a think tank, everyone begins to run to Henry and Midge for help. They help people only with practical problems. They get all sorts of people with mind troubling problems- from a lady who wants to get rid of the annoying geese without shooting or killing them to people with diet problems. While helping these people, they find themselves in hilarious situations. You should read this humor book to find out what happens to them.

Some parts in this book are boring, but the other parts just crack you up. One of my favorite quotes is(on page 52), "That's what my husband threatens to do. He says he is going out with a gun some morning and shoot enough geese to fill the freezer. But there are several things wrong with that. One-he doesn't have a gun and his eyesight is so poor he wouldn't hit anything anyhow. And second, the geese aren't on our place most of the time-they are next door. By the way, I'm Mrs. Walcott. Are you familiar with the roads around here?" I like this quote because it makes me laugh. She talks about her husband like he doesn't even know what a gun is. First, it sounds like he is a pretty good shooter, but when she talks about the reasons why it isn't a good thing to shoot the geese, she says it like he can't even pick a gun up.

Another of my favorite quotes is on page 58. " My meter has run out and here comes the law." I also like this quote because it foreshadows the event to come. The next couple of paragraphs explain what happens. To find out the next unbearable event, read this hilarious book, Henry Reed's Think Tank.

I really liked all the parts in this book even if some were boring. I liked all the segments because they just brought up even more funny moments. Even the tiring parts make you laugh. That's how fantastic this book is. I recommend this book to all readers.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 STAR RATING COMIN" UP, December 13, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Henry Read's Think Tank (Paperback)

This book, Henry Reed's THINK TANK was a good book. I read it because it was on my Accelarated Reader list. I think it was an exciting book because Henry and Midge went on tons and tons of adventures. If you read this book, you will definatly like it. I hope you choose to read this book. It's very good.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I love the Henry Reed books, July 7, 2011

By 

leighann "leighann1001" (Alpharetta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Henry Reed's Think Tank (Hardcover)

I had just one of these books as a kid and am now reading the others. They're very enjoyable. One thing I like about them is Henry and Midge's adventures are a little more down-to-earth and realistic. In most books the kids are off helping the police solve murders or something. Henry and Midge are babysitting, helping kids with their problems and hold kite-flying contests. They may be a tad on the unrealistic side -- I've never known anyone with a hot air balloon -- but not too much. And maybe some young teenager might get motivated to start his or her own business or at least go out and look for adventure. This book was published in 1986 so I wasn't sure if took place in the 80s when it was written or in the 50s to keep the continuity with the earlier books. The cordless phone, word processor and computer clued me in that it takes place in the 80s. So that brings me to my one beef with this book. Henry's mom calls from Manila to say school is going to be delayed possibly as late as October because they are short two teachers and need to find a sub and a permanent teacher. Henry say the American school there is small and that missing two teachers is a big deal. Now, I'm thinking that Mr. Robertson was in the Philippines during WW II and remembered that they had an American school and it was probably on the small side.However, by 1980 the American and British schools had merged, changed the name to International School of Manila and was quite large. Their website shows the class of 1986 (the year the book was published) has 170 registered members and for several years prior the classes were just as big. Based on my own experience going to an American school of similar size (actually a little smaller) in Asia, they would have had no more problem finding a sub or a new teacher and starting on time than any other school. But I suppose Mr. Robertson was going on his own personal experience and didn't think what may have changed over the previous 40 years. Having been raised overseas and spent summers with my grandparents I do relate to that part of the story. I never did anything as exciting as Henry does, my grandparents aren't as easygoing as Uncle Al and Aunt Mabel and never would have put up with it!