Make a Wish, Henry Bear

by Liam Francis Walsh

New Yorker cartoonist Liam Francis Walsh's Make a Wish, Henry Bear is the story of a young bear, a birthday wish gone awry, and a new friendship to set things right.

Henry Bear has very unusual parents.

They encourage him to stay up all night, eat chocolate cake at every meal, and get into trouble with his teacher.

But what happens when Henry Bear grows tired of indulging in childish things? Find out in this droll tale about making wishes with unanticipated consequences written and illustrated by the creator of Fish , which Kirkus Reviews , in a starred review, called “full-bodied” and “rewarding.”

Genres: Picture Books, Family, Humor, Friendship, Childrens, Fiction, Storytime

40 pages, Hardcover

Published April 30, 2019

About the author

Liam Francis Walsh is a cartoonist, writer, and illustrator, originally from northern Wisconsin. He grew up on a dairy farm with lots of siblings and books and a pet crow. He now lives in the Italian part of Switzerland. His award winning cartoons appear regularly in The New Yorker.

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

May 2019 - I thought the premise was hilarious and thought Ben would, too, but he was mostly jealous of Henry Bear for having parents who let him eat cake for every meal! Oops! Still funny.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Bear's wish that his parents were "more fun" comes true...but after a whole year of eating cake for dinner, staying up all night, and being late for school, Henry finds himself regretting the wish. With help from a new friend, can Henry wish the wish away on his next birthday?

Anthropomorphic bears (including one--Henry's friend--who is depicted in a hijab) populate this sweet and funny story.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise is funny, but the delivery is perfection. Last year, Henry Bear wished that his parents were more fun. So for an entire year, his parents have fed him nothing but cake, insisted he stay up past his bed time climbing trees, made him draw on the walls instead of doing homework, and every day he is late for school because of their antics. This year, he is going to wish for things to go back to normal... but his parents aren't making him a cake for his birthday, instead there will be candy. With no candles, and therefore no wish. What will Henry Bear do? Fortunately, he made a new friend today who is ready to help. Henry's backstory is revealed slowly, and I found myself laughing out loud when I realized his mistake. The illustrations showcase muted primary colors that make for bright, fun, expressive art.

[Lorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Henry makes a birthday wish with unforeseen consequences, his parents do crazy things like wake him up in the middle of the night to climb trees, feed him cake for breakfast, and beg him to stay home from school so they can spend the day in their pajamas. This year on his birthday he is determined to wish things back to normal, but will his irresponsible parents make that impossible or can a new friend make sure that Henry Bear gets his true wish.

A charming story with bright illustrations and the absurdity of the bear parent’s behavior will make this story a hit with both preschool and early elementary readers. The text of the story is easy enough for new readers to read this on their own and will work well for a group discussion on why getting everything you wish for is not a good idea. The combination of the illustration style, the Europeanesque setting, and the trim size gives this book a nostalgic feel, yet it doesn’t feel dated either. I would recommend this book for purchase by any school or public library.

This book was provided by the publisher for professional review by SWON Libraries.

[Sandy Brehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a funny take on "Be careful what you wish for!" In the early pages the odd parental behavior takes readers by surprise, and Henry Bear's reactions are also confusing, but intentionally so. The story reveals that Henry wished for his parents to be more "FUN" when he blew out candles on the previous birthday. Since then he's had more than enough of his childish parents, and he anxiously awaits the approaching birthday to make a wish to get back to normal. Even with that solution in sight, a twist from his parents threaten his plan, but he is rescued by his new friend from school.
I love the incidental way in which his new friend is a girl wearing a hijab, with no other reference to it or to curlutal differences. This is a natural placement and relationship that many children long for.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry can't wait until it's time for birthday cake tonight. Then he can make a wish to overturn last years wish. Last year, Henry wished that his parents were more fun. He has spent the year eating chocolate cake and staying up way past his bedtime and watching tv. Now Henry wants to return his parents to normal. When he gets home from school he finds his mother preparing a large bowl of candy. When he asks where the cake is she tells him that she wanted to try something different. Henry is devastated. He can't stick a candle to blow out in a bowl of candy! Thankfully a new school friend shows up just in time with a cupcake and candle so that Henry can make his wish.

A good pairing for the Amy Krouse Rosenthal books, Little Hoot and Little Pea.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what happens when birthday wishes come true...

Poor Henry can't get a decent meal or enough sleep...and it's all his parents fault.

This story keeps the reader wondering what on earth is going on that Henry's parents are acting so unusual! A little longer than many 32-page picture books, this story offers character development, the introduction of a new character (multicultural component, Muslim friend-yay!), and a plot development.

Audience: K-3rd grade

Curriculum Connection: making new friends, healthy habits, birthdays, wishes, dialog and the use of quotation marks, behavior, manners

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Age: Preschool-1st grade
Animals: Bears

Henry Bear's silly parents are always pushing him to do more fun things like eating cake for every meal and skipping school. When Henry Bear makes a new friend at school, he reveals the reason why and comes up with a solution.

Kids (and parents) will love the role reversal and Henry Bear's determination to make things right again.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry Bear is tired, so tired! His parents beg him to stay up late and to do dangerous things and always serve him chocolate cake or candy. What could possibly be going on? And what can Henry do about it? Amazing illustrations and a touch of friendship thrown in for fun! This one is a bit silly, but makes a fun group read aloud.

[Smoot M.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be careful what you wish for. Henry's wish comes true and after seeing the effects it has he wants to take it back. See his struggles and the lessons he learns. Fortunately he makes a friend that listens and helps him out and the world is at peace again.

[Amanda Gilroy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is super cute to read for a younger audience! The illustrations are fun and add to the story and there is a good message about being careful what you wish for and being grateful for what you have.

[Margaret Boling · Rating 3 out of 5]

4/1/2022 ~ Henry wishes his parents were more fun, and the wish goes wrong in an unexpected way. Can we really have too many spontaneous late nights, chocolate cake, etc.?

I found the picture book to be text heavy and the message too didactic. I did appreciate the bear classmate wearing a hijab.

[Adele · Rating 1 out of 5]

No. Not for me. This children's take on "The Monkey's Paw" is written and illustrated as if it were a typical funny and sweet picture book for young children, but actually, like its inspiration, it is decidedly creepy and even kind of horrifying at points.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable, playful tale.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read with my Kinders as we read "birthday" books. They loved sharing "rules" they have in their homes. Paired well will Big Red Lollipop since both featured characters wearing head scarves.

[Alison · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story should have started out with Henry making his wish. The way it was structured was confusing and led to me not finding the story funny

[MaryLibrarianOH · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cautionary tale about being careful what you wish for when you blow out your birthday candles.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book takes a little while to reveal what's going on, and I worry that it might confuse young readers. But this story is still a lot of fun with really cute and colorful illustrations.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be careful what you wish for?

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

An elementary level picture book about a bear who wishes his parents were more fun and then regrets his wish.

[Cheryl Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! The story is super fun and inventive, and the illustrations are BRILLIANT!

[susan nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

K storytime with bday cake craft

[Y.Poston]

A very cute inside-out kind of tale!

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a birthday wish gone wrong be made right? Henry Bear hopes so after a year of his parents getting him into trouble.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be careful what you wish for!
Ftom the copyright page: "The artwork for this book was created using a sable brush and india ink, ink wash, mixed media collage, and Photoshop."

[Stacy Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Bear appears to have the funnest parents around until you discover they are too fun. Good book for emerging readers who are almost ready for chapter books.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great birthday-themed story time read for preschoolers.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute and original idea.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Be careful of what you wish for...unintended consequences.

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nE1iw...