John Patrick Norman McHennessy: the boy who was always late (Dragonfly Books) [Paperback]

John Burningham (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Dragonfly Books

Every day John Patrick Norman McHennessy sets off along the road to learn, and every day strange and improbable happenings make him late.  To make things worse, his teacher, Sir, never believes his stories.  One day, John Patrick Norman McHennessy is able to make it on time and finds that an improbable and strange thing has happened to Sir.  Just how the tables are turned provides a twist every child will relish.

A Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies
An IRA Children's Choice
A Horn Book Fanfare Honor Book

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Every morning, John Patrick Norman McHennessy sets off along the road to learn and is waylaid by very unusual occurrencesa lion in the woods, a crocodile in the river, a tidal wavethat, according to his teacher, simply couldn't have happened. So, every afternoon he must stay after school to write out his punishment. But one morning as he hurries along, nothing happens, and he arrives at school on time. His teacher, however, is being held up in the roof by a great big hairy gorilla and demands help. John Patrick Norman McHennessy replies, "There are no such things as great big hairy gorillas in the roofs around here, Sir." And off he goes. Is this a fable about the learning of self-deception, a sort of variation on the boy-who-cried-wolf theme? Has John Patrick Norman McHennessy, long punished for telling the truth, uncovered the value of of lying? While children will enjoy the hero's telling off his teacher, adults may find a deeper meaning in Burningham's humorthat knowledge of what is real and what is not can be fickle next to tried-and-true experience. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-4 ``John Patrick Norman McHennessy set off along the road to learn.'' Along that road, he encounters crocodiles, lions, and tidal waves, all of which proceed to make him late for school. However, true to form, his teacher (an ugly, formidable figure) re fuses to accept his outrageous excuses, exclaiming that there are no such things along the road. When John Patrick fi nally manages to make it to school on time one uneventful morning, he finds his instructor being kidnapped by a gi ant gorilla. But John Patrick doesn't panic. After all, he knows there is no such thinghis teacher told him so. Burningham uses mixed media here to create boldly-colored illustrations which do a marvelous job of reinforcing the text. The storyline is a simple one, but it is filled with irony. Kids will iden tify with the unfairness depicted here and will enjoy the twist of fate which brings this ogre of an educator his come-uppance. Deb Andrews, Koko mo-Howard County Public Lib . , Ind.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 40 pages
• Publisher: Dragonfly Books (August 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0517885956
• ISBN-13: 978-0517885956
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 8.9 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,801,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If You Want an Honest Answer, Ask a Child, May 21, 2001

By 

Ann Azuma (Kobe, Hyogo-ken Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: John Patrick Norman McHennessy: the boy who was always late (Dragonfly Books) (Paperback)

We live in Japan. My boys, who, unlike most Japanese children, have a middle name, are tickled when I read off this boy`s FOUR. John Patrick Norman McHennessy not only has an amazingly long name, but he is always late. (Definitely something they can identify with.) It is not his fault, but because of the myriad of fantastic occurrances which befall him "on the road to learn." He perseverantly keeps on going, everyday. He is always truthful, even when it would be easier to lie and avoid chastisement from Sir, who always accuses him of prevarication and metes out some dreadful punishments. In fact, Sir gets bigger and scarier-looking with each appearance, until the tables are turned in a most satisfying denoument. He may be too frightening for wee ones, but my five- and seven-year old boys love it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, January 21, 2012

By 

nicky - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: John Patrick Norman McHennessy: The Boy Who Was Always Late (Hardcover)

Bought this book twenty plus years ago, found it again on Amazon and boy was I pleasef. An excellent read aloud.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Family Favorite, November 29, 2011

By 

Anita Farris - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: John Patrick Norman McHennessy: The Boy Who Was Always Late (Hardcover)

While living in France in the 1980s, we would occasionally cross over the border and shop in Geneva for some "English" reading material. While there one Christmas, I found this book, John Patrick Norman McHennessy:The Boy Who Was Always Late. My four children absolutely loved the book. It is imaginative and the story is endearing to the young child. As my son's name was John, we gave the book to him as a gift but it was read to all. I was perusing through Amazon one day and was amazed to find it and purchased it for my granddaughter. For me, it ranks up there with Madeline, and all the other children's classics. it is an easy and fun read.