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A Friend for Henry
In Classroom Six, second left down the hall, Henry has been on the lookout for a friend. A friend who shares. A friend who listens. Maybe even a friend who likes things to stay the same and all in order, as Henry does. But on a day full of too close and too loud, when nothing seems to go right, will Henry ever find a friend—or will a friend find him? A story from the perspective of a boy on the autism spectrum.
36 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2019
69 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Jenn Bailey
10 books32 followersJenn Bailey is an author, editor, documentarian, blue-ribbon pie baker, and eager traveler. She received her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Born and raised in Rhode Island, she now calls Kansas City home where she lives with her husband, three sons, and numerous cats and dogs. Jenn was inspired to write Henry's story after watching her own sons, one who is on the autism spectrum, navigate finding a friend - a process which took patience, time, and courage. But finding the right one was always, always worth it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
February 26, 2019
In his classroom, Henry is looking to make a new friend. It can’t be the class pet, because Gilly the fish can’t play on the swings. It can’t be his teacher. As Henry considers different children in his class, he realizes that some of them are too colorful even when you try to do something nice for them. Others don’t listen very well, like a friend would. Other kids break the rules or play with worms. Henry found himself watching Gilly in her fishbowl. Katie is watching Gilly too. Henry thinks about Katie. The two play blocks together quietly and Katie listens to Henry and he listens to her. They play together but each in their own way. It’s just right.
Bailey has written a captivating story about a boy with particular needs and wants in a friend. Henry has strong opinions about friends, ones that make him angry when they are dismissed. When Henry gets too frustrated he ends up in a bit of trouble at school. It is great to see a book embrace the deep emotions of children and not label any of them as wrong. Henry doesn’t have to change at all to find a friend, he just needs some patience.
Song’s illustrations are simple and warm. They depict a diverse classroom of children, all possible friends for Henry to consider. Done in ink and watercolor, they show everyone’s emotions throughout the day very clearly through body language and facial expressions.
A lovely look at the emotions of finding a friend. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
https://wakingbraincells.com/2019/02/...
Bailey has written a captivating story about a boy with particular needs and wants in a friend. Henry has strong opinions about friends, ones that make him angry when they are dismissed. When Henry gets too frustrated he ends up in a bit of trouble at school. It is great to see a book embrace the deep emotions of children and not label any of them as wrong. Henry doesn’t have to change at all to find a friend, he just needs some patience.
Song’s illustrations are simple and warm. They depict a diverse classroom of children, all possible friends for Henry to consider. Done in ink and watercolor, they show everyone’s emotions throughout the day very clearly through body language and facial expressions.
A lovely look at the emotions of finding a friend. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
https://wakingbraincells.com/2019/02/...
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February 27, 2019I really liked that, unlike a lot of other "finding a friend" books, Henry did not have to change who he is, but rather had to find the friend that fit him. I was expecting some kind of a "learn to be friends with everyone" message, so it was refreshing to find a book where that wasn't the case.
March 30, 2019
Although the book jacket indicates that Henry is on the autism spectrum, there is no mention of that in the text, which I regard as a strength. After all, labels can often result in putting others in boxes and forming certain assumptions about them or expectations for them. In this case, Henry is on the outlook for a friend. He knows it can't be the class goldfish or his teacher, and in true Goldilocks fashion, he considers various possibilities. But some of his classmates are just too loud or try to come too close while others take too many snacks or play with weird things. Just as he's about to give up, a quiet girl named Katie comes to hang out with him. The ink and watercolor illustrations set just the right tone for this story of acceptance. I liked the fact that Henry has very specific requirements for a friend and won't take just anyone into his circle. This is a reassuring story that reminds readers that it's perfectly okay to be yourself and to arrange the carpet squares just so, even when others might not care about that. Reading this picture book could be an eye-opening experience for some neurotypicals, but it also is a gentle reminder that friendship is worth the wait.
December 31, 2019
Original review can be found on my blog: Mad Book Love
A Friend for Henry is a book about a little boy who, though never stated, I suspect has autism (as do two of my kiddos). One of the facets of his autism is being very particular about certain things and rather anxious about change and trying new things. Henry very much wants to find a friend in his classroom, but he is struggling to find someone who will fit well into his world. In the end, with some perseverance and the littlest bit of flexibility, Henry finds just the person.
As the mother of two autistic children, I appreciate any effort to explain their differences and challenges to young children. With the right support and information, many children with unique differences can blend into their school community, but it helps if that education starts at home. Tolerance is a start, but inclusion and acceptance should always be the goal. This book seems like a decent start down that road.
Note: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.
A Friend for Henry is a book about a little boy who, though never stated, I suspect has autism (as do two of my kiddos). One of the facets of his autism is being very particular about certain things and rather anxious about change and trying new things. Henry very much wants to find a friend in his classroom, but he is struggling to find someone who will fit well into his world. In the end, with some perseverance and the littlest bit of flexibility, Henry finds just the person.
As the mother of two autistic children, I appreciate any effort to explain their differences and challenges to young children. With the right support and information, many children with unique differences can blend into their school community, but it helps if that education starts at home. Tolerance is a start, but inclusion and acceptance should always be the goal. This book seems like a decent start down that road.
Note: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss. I pride myself on writing fair and honest reviews.
February 23, 2019
A little boy on the autism spectrum thinks about his classmates, looking for a friend. The plot is simple yet very subtle as Henry's feelings and behaviors make it hard to find a match in a friend.
A very sweet story that does a nice job of reflecting some autism spectrum behaviors and challenges and what it takes to be a good friend to anyone.
Mika Song's are simple but wonderfully extend the text. A wonderful book to use with pre-school to kindergarten-age children.
A very sweet story that does a nice job of reflecting some autism spectrum behaviors and challenges and what it takes to be a good friend to anyone.
Mika Song's are simple but wonderfully extend the text. A wonderful book to use with pre-school to kindergarten-age children.
March 2, 2024
I read this book for my cousin. Personally, I love this book. It's really heartwarming and perfect for kids. Song's illustration is really cute and heartwarming, I admit people will love the illustration.
Beside, this book teach us so many things about life, friendship, and searchings.
Beside, this book teach us so many things about life, friendship, and searchings.
March 22, 2019
I greatly admire the ways in which both author and illustrator have revealed younger Henry's personality and needs. What appears to be a third person narration, including some dialogue, which gradually invites readers to view the story unfolding as an inner voice, a peek inside Henry's head.
At no point is Henry labeled. No reference is made to being on a spectrum, to rigidity, to being high-functioning, or any of the other designations that are becoming catch phrases among the general public.
Assumptions are shattered, in the subtlest of ways, revealing that Henry does not "prefer" to be alone, but is, in fact, eager for a friend. He adheres firmly to a sort of checklist of criteria and rules to determine who COULD be a friend, the kind of friend he wants and needs.
Text makes clear that Henry is observational, often standing apart to gather information. He holds firm to his conclusions about others but is capable of growth. Henry has strong preferences (in colors, locations, activities) but but he CAN adjust, if given a chance.
Here are some thoughts about pairing this book with HENRY THE BOY, Penny Candy Books, 2019:
There is a strong (and overdue) push to represent our diverse world in all books, but especially in books for young children. A Friend for Henry succeeds in terms of externals (skin tones and ethnicities) but I was even more charmed and delighted to note that Henry (and readers) will identify personality and temperament differences, too. Henry notes the patterns of his peers (activity and noise levels, bossy/sharing tendencies, and others) and is aware of his own reactions to those personal styles.
The two titles could be shared and compared, with similarities and differences noted. Both offer rich scenes for discussions about finding, making, repairing, and keeping friendships. Some amazing conversations about the illustration styles, color tones, and moods of the two books will arise, along with distinct preferences between the two approaches.
As a side note, Henry seems to be a popular name these days. If you have a Henry (or two) in your home or class or library group, you will have some very enthusiastic readers!
At no point is Henry labeled. No reference is made to being on a spectrum, to rigidity, to being high-functioning, or any of the other designations that are becoming catch phrases among the general public.
Assumptions are shattered, in the subtlest of ways, revealing that Henry does not "prefer" to be alone, but is, in fact, eager for a friend. He adheres firmly to a sort of checklist of criteria and rules to determine who COULD be a friend, the kind of friend he wants and needs.
Text makes clear that Henry is observational, often standing apart to gather information. He holds firm to his conclusions about others but is capable of growth. Henry has strong preferences (in colors, locations, activities) but but he CAN adjust, if given a chance.
Here are some thoughts about pairing this book with HENRY THE BOY, Penny Candy Books, 2019:
There is a strong (and overdue) push to represent our diverse world in all books, but especially in books for young children. A Friend for Henry succeeds in terms of externals (skin tones and ethnicities) but I was even more charmed and delighted to note that Henry (and readers) will identify personality and temperament differences, too. Henry notes the patterns of his peers (activity and noise levels, bossy/sharing tendencies, and others) and is aware of his own reactions to those personal styles.
The two titles could be shared and compared, with similarities and differences noted. Both offer rich scenes for discussions about finding, making, repairing, and keeping friendships. Some amazing conversations about the illustration styles, color tones, and moods of the two books will arise, along with distinct preferences between the two approaches.
As a side note, Henry seems to be a popular name these days. If you have a Henry (or two) in your home or class or library group, you will have some very enthusiastic readers!
June 10, 2020
Being an educator in special education, this book jumped out at me as a way to invite discussion and education on differences, specifically Autism within the early primary classroom. This book is a Schneider Award Honor Book for Young Children for the year 2020 and I found it in an e-book format. The pages were very simple with many having 1-2 sentences on one side and a simple drawing, with no background, on the other side of the 2-page layout. The author, who has a son with Autism, was able to simply state some characteristics, such as wanting this lined up or perfect and being particular. This short story would be a great way to show how sometimes people think different and may act differently, but they are just trying to become your friend. We can teach students to be inclusive like the girl was at the end of the story and became friends with Henry as they played together. This book seemed to be in a preschool/kindergarten setting, which would be the perfect time to introduce this book to students.
March 3, 2019
The story, pacing, and humor of this book are delightful. And the artwork is perfectly paired with the narrative. A terrific book that left me wanting more.
March 2, 2019
Such a sweet book! The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and I’m really hoping there will be another adventure with Henry soon.
June 22, 2024
I did not know about this Henry book. I am a big fan of this series.
June 11, 2020
I found A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey on the Schneider Family Book Award list. The book was the young children honor title in 2020. This book is about a boy named Henry who is searching for a friend. While the book never explicitly says so, Henry’s behaviors and thoughts portray a boy with autism. The author simply portrays some of the characteristics, such as following rules, not wanting paint on his hands, and not liking a particular shape. Throughout the book, Henry considers his classmates as potential friends and in the end finds one. The illustrations are simple and give lots of closeups of the characters. There is a combination of one and two page spreads with a few lines of text on each. I believe this book would be best suited for students who are in kindergarten or first grade. A teacher could use this book to teach about including others, empathy, and friendship. This book could not only serve as a window into the characteristics of people with autism but could also serve as a mirror. I believe that many children would be able to connect with finding a friend and also having particular tendencies. I read this book on YouTube and the video and speaker were clear.
June 13, 2021
A Friend for Henry is a sweet book showing Henry's struggle to find a friend that he connects with. Each student in his class does not act the way that Henry feels a friend should act. He finally finds a friend that understands him and Henry feels good about school again!
This book is excellent for students PK-2 as it shows people's differences and tells about the difficult path that it can sometimes be to find a friend! This book shows many diverse characters which is always a bonus, and provides as mirror for many students that may have this hardship of connecting with others around them. This book would be great to talk about friendship and making friends, or even community building in the classroom at the beginning of the year. Older students studying child development or character analysis could use this book to look deeply into the character of Henry and what his actions may tell us about him as a child or student. I would definitely suggest this book for young children!
I found this book on the list of Schneider Family Book Award Winners (2020) and watched a read aloud on YouTube.
This book is excellent for students PK-2 as it shows people's differences and tells about the difficult path that it can sometimes be to find a friend! This book shows many diverse characters which is always a bonus, and provides as mirror for many students that may have this hardship of connecting with others around them. This book would be great to talk about friendship and making friends, or even community building in the classroom at the beginning of the year. Older students studying child development or character analysis could use this book to look deeply into the character of Henry and what his actions may tell us about him as a child or student. I would definitely suggest this book for young children!
I found this book on the list of Schneider Family Book Award Winners (2020) and watched a read aloud on YouTube.
November 18, 2021
This is such a cute book about a boy on the autism specturm (ASD) who is trying to find a friend. Though the book does not tell the readers the boy has ASD specifically, we learn through the details that bother henry when he is looking for a friend. While looking, Henrys social cues are off, yelling, being too close, and the wrong colors all bother him. But when henry finds a friend who is quiet, reads by herself, and likes to watch the fish just like he does, he instantly finds the perfect friend for him. I will definitely use this book in my classroom to introduce students that others may not like loud noises and to respect friends personal space. Most young students do not understand why some students, such as autistic students, are by themselves a lot or how to make friends with them and i think this book would help.
February 18, 2022
This book is about Henry who has autism and is hoping to find a friend. After a few mishaps and misunderstandings with a few of his classmates, he finally meets the perfect friend at the fishbowl. Henry believes in following rules and finding a friend who feels the same proves to be a difficult task.
Most of the bigger words in this book are compound words or words they would be familiar with like shapes, foods, colors, things beginning readers would learn or know from seeing at school like the word recess, so I think that K-3rd would enjoy reading this book or having it read to them.
Readers who like books about the following would enjoy this book: autism, friendship, pet fish, and school.
Most of the bigger words in this book are compound words or words they would be familiar with like shapes, foods, colors, things beginning readers would learn or know from seeing at school like the word recess, so I think that K-3rd would enjoy reading this book or having it read to them.
Readers who like books about the following would enjoy this book: autism, friendship, pet fish, and school.
November 19, 2021
Henry spends his entire school day looking for a friend, but he wants a friend who shares and a friend who listens. This is a great read to teach your students and children what it would be like to from the perspective of a boy on the autism spectrum. I am so glad that books like this one are being published.
March 18, 2019
"It's from Rug World. There's the sticker."
November 4, 2023
The book is cute and I was curious about a kid book with an autistic child in it… but the result wasn’t what I expected. It’s not bad! But it isn’t good either, because I don’t think people will understand more about autism and neurodivergent behavior by reading this book.
First, it misses a lot in the illustrations. I searched Gilly in rhe first pages for like 5 minutes, not understand who she was, it wasn’t cleared and not pictures. Or the girls with the paint on her, we don’t have in between. In kids books, the text and the illustrations are supposed to complete each other, it’s two worlds for a story. Here, it was missing illustrations to understand the text and it was missing text to understand the illustrations.
So, with that being said, how are we supposed to learn or understand about autisms behavior and little Henry’s emotions? Why was he upset ? sad? we don’t know. For an adult, assumptions can be made, but with autistics childs, it needs to be facts not assumptions.
A for the effort but a D on the result.
First, it misses a lot in the illustrations. I searched Gilly in rhe first pages for like 5 minutes, not understand who she was, it wasn’t cleared and not pictures. Or the girls with the paint on her, we don’t have in between. In kids books, the text and the illustrations are supposed to complete each other, it’s two worlds for a story. Here, it was missing illustrations to understand the text and it was missing text to understand the illustrations.
So, with that being said, how are we supposed to learn or understand about autisms behavior and little Henry’s emotions? Why was he upset ? sad? we don’t know. For an adult, assumptions can be made, but with autistics childs, it needs to be facts not assumptions.
A for the effort but a D on the result.
October 31, 2024
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars
What a delightful story where someone looking for a friend doesn’t have to change who they are in any way. Many books about making friends have it where change and compromise get them to be friends with everyone. Sadly, life doesn’t work that way (but man it would be lovely if it did). This book goes to show that all a person really needs is one friend who understands them.
I also liked how Henry having autism isn’t the main point of the book. There are moments the reader can see he’s not like the other classmates but that’s about it. This was quite refreshing.
What a delightful story where someone looking for a friend doesn’t have to change who they are in any way. Many books about making friends have it where change and compromise get them to be friends with everyone. Sadly, life doesn’t work that way (but man it would be lovely if it did). This book goes to show that all a person really needs is one friend who understands them.
I also liked how Henry having autism isn’t the main point of the book. There are moments the reader can see he’s not like the other classmates but that’s about it. This was quite refreshing.
December 16, 2019
Even a child on the Autism spectrum needs a friend. What is important in a friend? I like how Henry evaluates various other children in his class for their friendship qualities before finding the perfect friend: who listens, is quiet, shares, and likes things just so, too. It reminded me of "This Beach is Loud!"
April 23, 2020
I loved this tender book about how it isn't always easy to find a friend or be a friend. I love it most of all because there are so many conversation possibilities here. Even though this is written for younger children, I think it would make a great conversation starter for my third and fourth graders about point of view, relationships, and more.
January 8, 2024
4/5
A sweet, simple story that successfully navigates very nuanced topics that can be difficult for all ages to understand and discuss, not just children; friendship, other-ness or uniqueness, and acceptance/accommodation were all tenderly touched on in this story and I thought it was both educational and heartwarming. 😊
A sweet, simple story that successfully navigates very nuanced topics that can be difficult for all ages to understand and discuss, not just children; friendship, other-ness or uniqueness, and acceptance/accommodation were all tenderly touched on in this story and I thought it was both educational and heartwarming. 😊
May 22, 2025
A sweet story about finding a friend who matches their yang to our yin, which is hard enough for adults, let alone little humans.
The part of the story that I liked the most is that it goes against the grain of conventional "advice" about making friends, molding ourselves, making ourselves more likable to others to win their affection. A friend shares and a friend listens; a friend doesn't demand change; a friend embraces all of you. The book jacket mentions that Henry is on the Autism Spectrum, but the actual text has no mention of it. Which is one of the strong points of the book in my opinion. Henry could be any of us frankly, and therefore I think this book is an excellent read for all little humans. It is remarkable to note how keenly Henry observes and makes metal notes about everyone around him. All 3 of us give it a 👍🏽!
The part of the story that I liked the most is that it goes against the grain of conventional "advice" about making friends, molding ourselves, making ourselves more likable to others to win their affection. A friend shares and a friend listens; a friend doesn't demand change; a friend embraces all of you. The book jacket mentions that Henry is on the Autism Spectrum, but the actual text has no mention of it. Which is one of the strong points of the book in my opinion. Henry could be any of us frankly, and therefore I think this book is an excellent read for all little humans. It is remarkable to note how keenly Henry observes and makes metal notes about everyone around him. All 3 of us give it a 👍🏽!
March 27, 2019
I loved the style of the illustrator - Mika Song. Definitely want to look up more books illustrated by them. I just love stories where people are looking for someone who gets them. It can be a struggle for some, and easy for others, but so worth it when it happens.
August 31, 2025
Very relatable for many children and adults, including Autistics and other neurodivergents. I wish it had gone a little more into how to interact with people well and what to do in the face of annoyance or mistreatment. Otherwise, it’s a very sweet and hopeful story! I love the expressive illustrations and the diverse array of characters!
February 25, 2019
Loved this journey of finding a friend who's just right for you.
September 27, 2020
This is about a kid with autism and how he relates a little differently than the other kids in his class.
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December 28, 2023part 9 of reading children's picture books to 'meet' my reading goal
January 3, 2024
Cute story about Henry trying to find a friend in his classroom.
November 13, 2024
Linda lectura y hermosas ilustraciones.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews