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Henry Reed #5
Henry Reed's Think Tank
Henry and his friend Midge Glass find themselves in a series of hilarious situations when they form a neighborhood consultation committee to handle a host of mind-boggling problems
182 pages, Hardcover
First published October 23, 1986
3 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Keith Robertson
53 books30 followersKeith Robertson was born on May 9, 1914 in Dows, Iowa. He joined the Navy in 1931, and served as a radioman on a destroyer. Later, he attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a B.S. degree. He attributed his initial decision to study at the Academy to a "fanatical aversion to washing dishes." He said, "When I discovered that midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy did not wash dishes but were gentlemen by act of Congress, I promptly applied for entrance." Robertson served in World War II as captain of a destroyer. He was awarded five battle stars. He retired from the service as a captain in the United States Naval Reserve.
Robertson published his first book, Ticktock and Jim, in 1948. His writing career spanned 40 years. As a member of the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature, he was active in encouraging aspiring authors.
He was married to Elizabeth Woodburn Robertson, a rare-book dealer, and had four children. He died of cancer at his home in Hopewell, New Jersey on September 23, 1991, aged 77.
Robertson published his first book, Ticktock and Jim, in 1948. His writing career spanned 40 years. As a member of the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature, he was active in encouraging aspiring authors.
He was married to Elizabeth Woodburn Robertson, a rare-book dealer, and had four children. He died of cancer at his home in Hopewell, New Jersey on September 23, 1991, aged 77.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 10, 2017
This closes out the Henry Reed series. Five adventures, covering three summers in the youth of an American boy who visits his aunt and uncle in rural New Jersey.
Time for a quick round of "compare and contrast"; this book comes after a 16 year gap from his fourth tale, and I feel it shows in a lot of ways.
First, in the details: Henry's world in Henry Reed, Inc. is 1958, with writing done by typewriter and reproduction by a print shop; travel for kids by foot, bicycle or sometimes horse. Families have a standard 50's make-up of father, mother and X kids. Nearly 40 years later in Henry Reed's Think Tank we have word-processor and photocopy machine available, and parents driving kids to various activities, and a widowed mother of two in the neighborhood.
Second, in the tone: the 50s/60s books have a different underlying tone, as Henry seems ot have more adult responsibilities and work ethic, and his troubles are accidental. by the 1986 volume, he seems to have a touch less 'adult', and seems to be responsible for some of the trouble that comes his way.
Finally, the theme: Think Tank seeks to reproduce the Henry Reed, Inc. setting but modernized, but it takes a moral step backwards as Henry and Midge are a bit trickster and a bit huckster, with his Think Tank aimed at a more juvenile crowd, instead of the 1958 working boy with trouble sneaking up on him.
A fun read, and a charming last hurrah, but not the quality of the first four.
Time for a quick round of "compare and contrast"; this book comes after a 16 year gap from his fourth tale, and I feel it shows in a lot of ways.
First, in the details: Henry's world in Henry Reed, Inc. is 1958, with writing done by typewriter and reproduction by a print shop; travel for kids by foot, bicycle or sometimes horse. Families have a standard 50's make-up of father, mother and X kids. Nearly 40 years later in Henry Reed's Think Tank we have word-processor and photocopy machine available, and parents driving kids to various activities, and a widowed mother of two in the neighborhood.
Second, in the tone: the 50s/60s books have a different underlying tone, as Henry seems ot have more adult responsibilities and work ethic, and his troubles are accidental. by the 1986 volume, he seems to have a touch less 'adult', and seems to be responsible for some of the trouble that comes his way.
Finally, the theme: Think Tank seeks to reproduce the Henry Reed, Inc. setting but modernized, but it takes a moral step backwards as Henry and Midge are a bit trickster and a bit huckster, with his Think Tank aimed at a more juvenile crowd, instead of the 1958 working boy with trouble sneaking up on him.
A fun read, and a charming last hurrah, but not the quality of the first four.
January 8, 2015
Having grown to a man's estate one of the things I appreciate most about a children's book is when it includes a subtext for adults; and the Henry Reed series is marvelous at this task. While the younger children laugh with Henry and Midge's adventures and misadventures, the older children and adults can laugh along with Uncle Al's running commentary and comparisons between Henry and his mother.
Another very enjoyable part of this book and this series was the glimpse back into another culture; one without the constant pressure of big brother. Where kids could go play for hours on end, and get into all sorts of trouble, with only a minimum of government intervention.
The think tank plays on a third positive aspect of the series, the continual threat of Henry and Midge to 'grow up'. Unlike modern youth, who seem to be locked in a continual cycle of irresponsibility, Henry and Midge constantly strain to be 'grown up' and do 'adult stuff', all the while treating that as a perfectly normal part of who they are as children.
Overall a great book in a great set of books. A great read aloud book for all ages.
Another very enjoyable part of this book and this series was the glimpse back into another culture; one without the constant pressure of big brother. Where kids could go play for hours on end, and get into all sorts of trouble, with only a minimum of government intervention.
The think tank plays on a third positive aspect of the series, the continual threat of Henry and Midge to 'grow up'. Unlike modern youth, who seem to be locked in a continual cycle of irresponsibility, Henry and Midge constantly strain to be 'grown up' and do 'adult stuff', all the while treating that as a perfectly normal part of who they are as children.
Overall a great book in a great set of books. A great read aloud book for all ages.
June 25, 2023
Another tale with Henry Reed and some funny moments!
Henry’s summer has been extended with his Aunt and Uncle who live in the countryside of New Jersey. This time, instead of doing their previous business, Henry and Midge decide to make money using their brains and open a think tank business from the barn.
Some fun moments for sure but not one of the better titles in the series. I was also ever so slightly annoyed with a couple of minor-ish elements that got thrown.
Ages: 12+
#Summer #Entrepreneurship
Cleanliness: Gosh, Gee, Golly and the like are used a few times. A number of comments from older and younger ladies thinking a few guys are handsome. A young girl is interested in a guy. A woman who has kids starts dating a man - not specified whether a widow or divorced. A boy isn’t good at athletics like his dad and doesn’t know how to make him proud - this is not emotionally over dramatized and does resolve nicely. A woman who has a stealing problem is taken home, sees a doctor and it’s determined she is “sick.”
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
Henry’s summer has been extended with his Aunt and Uncle who live in the countryside of New Jersey. This time, instead of doing their previous business, Henry and Midge decide to make money using their brains and open a think tank business from the barn.
Some fun moments for sure but not one of the better titles in the series. I was also ever so slightly annoyed with a couple of minor-ish elements that got thrown.
Ages: 12+
#Summer #Entrepreneurship
Cleanliness: Gosh, Gee, Golly and the like are used a few times. A number of comments from older and younger ladies thinking a few guys are handsome. A young girl is interested in a guy. A woman who has kids starts dating a man - not specified whether a widow or divorced. A boy isn’t good at athletics like his dad and doesn’t know how to make him proud - this is not emotionally over dramatized and does resolve nicely. A woman who has a stealing problem is taken home, sees a doctor and it’s determined she is “sick.”
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!
September 16, 2013
Thus is a story of times gone by. Think tanks are a term of the past that some still long for.... and this is New England's answer to Mayberry U.S.A. It's just so old fashioned that its a bit dated and yet something we tend to miss. The kids charge for their " brilliant" ideas... But are totally clueless when it comes to others feelings and needs.. Priceless!
December 17, 2016
We ended up reading this final Henry Reed book out of order, ahead of the one that precedes it, but it was still fine. Really great series. I'd recommend it to those who have enjoyed the Little House books and the Great Brain series. I was pleasantly surprised that this installment, written many years later than the original books, was still quite fresh and fit nicely with its predecessors.
May 5, 2023
Such fun! We love the Henry Reed books and I was so happy our library has this one as it is, alas, out of print. Published in 1986, significantly later than the 1960s pub dates of the earlier titles, it still has much the same feeling as the other books in the series, though a few references do jar slightly as Henry hasn’t aged a bit yet now has access to word processors instead of an old typewriter. It’s still cram full of that endearing mixture of hijinks and intelligence that made me love Henry Reed to begin with. He’s such a smart, thoughtful young man with interest in business yet he’s also still very much a kid at heart and this reminds me so much of my oldest son. I will say that I found a few of Henry’s actions a bit juvenile in this one (those plastic spiders, ugh!) but overall he and Midge are great role models and the antics are mostly what you’d expect from something like “Leave it to Beaver” but with a dose of business acumen. I especially loved the survey Henry and Midge put together to determine the going rate for allowances in the area and the way they presented the information to their client’s father to compel him to up her allowance. There is nothing “kiddie” about it and I appreciate that children reading this book are not dummied down to. It is a tad dated in places, but overall I feel it holds up refreshingly well and I’m so glad we could read it. It’s full of summer atmosphere (including tubing down the Delaware River and a kite flying contest) it was a treat to read now that we’ve finally got some sunshine.
August 9, 2022
I actually read all five books in this series over the weekend, but I know I've read the other four in the past. So, I'm adding this one to my "Read in 2022" list, representing the complete series.
This one came quite a bit after the fourth book, but it basically returned to original formula, after a bit of a swerve in book 3. I found it interesting that Henry and Midge were quite a bit nastier in this book than the earlier stories. Certain aspects of the characterizations reminded me of some Archie comics from the early/mid-70s, especially with regard to the boy/girl interactions. Fun reads.
This one came quite a bit after the fourth book, but it basically returned to original formula, after a bit of a swerve in book 3. I found it interesting that Henry and Midge were quite a bit nastier in this book than the earlier stories. Certain aspects of the characterizations reminded me of some Archie comics from the early/mid-70s, especially with regard to the boy/girl interactions. Fun reads.
January 11, 2024
It wa written well and I liked the plot except that it seems to encourage dishonesty, as the MCs get back at the bulles by a) making them get a ticket or b) helping them lose a contest.
July 31, 2025
Not as fun as Henry Reed's Journey, but still a nice time spent with Henry and Midge, and a look at the mid 1980s.
March 7, 2023
A fun read with some laughs. I did not know this was a series. A 1980s read
February 25, 2013
As usual with any book starring the amazing Henry Reed and Midge Glass, I loved this book! Only these two characters would think of the plots they put into action. One thing I really like about these books is the way there are multiple side plots running together in each chapter. An amazing book - no other way to put it. If you want some light hearted reading that will make it feel like summer, no matter what the weather, this is a book for you!
April 23, 2013
Another fun children's book from a (not-to-distant) bygone era {okay--this one was published in the 80s!}. I like Henry. I like Midge.
May 28, 2013
More like three and a half. Not quite as good as some of the others, but still fun.
January 30, 2018
I liked it. It's about how they have a think tank and they solve people problems like one girl wants to get a bigger allowance. So they make a survey and she gets a bigger allowance.
October 16, 2020
Published a bit later than the preceding adventures and sadly lacking McCloskey's wonderful pictures, but still perfectly in the spirit of the rest of this classic series!
May 5, 2023
Interesting premise. But I don't think I like some of the "solutions" done in this book
Want to read
May 28, 2019so good
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews