Bring a book – The Henry books by D.B. Johnson

I first stumbled on the Henry books while browsing at my local Barnes and Noble when my daughter was quite young. When I say browsing, I actually mean chasing after her while she pulled down books and stuffed animals and I frantically tried to undo the damage. Henry Works was face out. It had a bear on the cover. We like books with animals. In those whirlwind early days of shopping for children’s books, that was all it took.

It turned out to be one of those serendipitous purchases that I’ve been forever thankful for.  I read the entire book aloud (okay, probably more than once), before I thought, “Hey, there’s something familiar about this story. I wonder if I’ve read it before.”

Turns out the Henry books are based on the life and works of Henry David Thoreau. So, yeah. A little bit familiar. I’m an English major. In Henry Works, Henry spends the day walking through the woods around Walden Pond and through the village of Concord where he chats with neighbors, the Alcotts, and his friend, Emerson. When people ask, he says he’s working. When people ask what work he’s doing, he says he’s writing a book. At the end of the day, he returns to his cabin and sits down to write.

The writer in me loves the glimpse into how the creative mind works. (Um, not comparing myself to Thoreau, here.) The mom in me loves the unique drawings and delightful storyline. And I love being able to introduce my kids–in such a simple, palatable way–to the ideas of one of America’s great thinkers.

The other books in the series, Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, Henry Builds a Cabin, Henry’s Night, and Henry Climbs a Mountain are all in a similar vein. They feature great art, a dash of philosophy, and a focus on the delights of outdoor world.

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Emily McKay, aka. Hippy Chick mom,  lives and writes in the Texas hill country. She has two kids, two dogs, two cats, and 9 chickens.  She loves movies, food, yoga and books. And eggs. Lots and lots of eggs.