Henry and Amy: Right-Way-Round and Upside Down

by Stephen Michael King

Henry always felt out of step with the world around him. When everyone looked up, he looked down. If he thought it was going to be a sunny day, it usually rained. Amy could do everything right, She never tied her shoelaces together, or forgot her umbrella. Amy showed Henry everything she knew, but deep down she wished she didn't always have to be so perfect. So Henry showed Amy how to dress funny and roll down hills sideways. Together, they could be serious or silly, right-way-round or upside down. As long as they were together they could do anything! Any child who has ever experienced a moment of self-doubt will be both reassured and delighted by this heartwarming tale of two very different friends and their ability to help one another feel more complete.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Stephen Michael King has illustrated, written, and designed many books for children, including The Duck and the Darklings by Glenda Millard. He lives in Australia.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! I felt all happy and glowing after I read this book and wanted to run right out and tell all my friends THANK YOU for being in my life! Stephen Michael King is fast becoming one of my favorites in the children's book world and this sweet, gently humorous tale of two opposites finding friendship, courage and inspiration in one another is pitch-perfect! This is one of the books King authored *and* illustrated and the pictures add so much to the story. I also really love King's dog illustrations and the one here is no exception. Three cheers and five stars for "Henry and Amy" :-)

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy who can't do anything right meets a young girl who can do no wrong, and the rest (as they say) is history. Quickly becoming firm friends, Henry and Amy find that their very different ways of being - Henry can never seem to go in a straight line, or tell up from down, while Amy is always prepared, and knows how to do everything that is expected of her - does not prevent them from enjoying each other's company, instead enriching both of their lives. For the perfect little girl (not unexpectedly) long to be a little less perfect, while the perpetually out-of-step boy longs to fit in. Somewhere in the middle is happiness...

The second story I have read from Australian picture-book author/artist Stephen Michael King - the first was the poignant and appealing Mutt Dog! - Henry and Amy: (Right-Way-Round and Upside Down) is an engaging tale of two friends united by an all-too common experience: unhappiness with themselves as they are. I liked how the answer to this unhappiness lies in a tempering of those qualities which make them unique, rather than in outright change in one direction or another. The artwork, as I expected after enjoying Mutt Dog! , was very endearing. All in all, a sweet little book, one I would recommend to all children who worry about whether they're the way that they are "supposed to" be.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book. It’s charming with a capital C. It’s a wonderful story about how two very different people can be the greatest of friends. The illustrations are terrific. I especially enjoyed the wonderful dog. This is a book worth owning. I am a huge fan of [Stephen Michael King] and in this book he has created both the story and the illustrations. A huge thank you to Goodreads friend Kathryn for alerting me to this book! In a completely organic way, it’s a true feel good book, a real winner! I’m enthusiastic about assigning this one 5 stars.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice lesson for kids about how friends can compliment each other without having every single thing in common.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry always feels out of step with the world, doing the opposite of what everyone else does. While walking backward one day, he bumps into Amy. Amy does everything right and she teaches Henry to do the same. But Amy is tried of always being right, so Henry helps her learn a few things, too.

Self acceptance, friendship and inviduality.

Great illustrations.

[matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a delightful, whimsical, beautifully illustrated book. The text is short and sweet.

[Kristal · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cute story about friendship, even if one person does things very different from another

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. Nice pictures. I was surprised by how much Mr 6 liked this.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute book. I think it was a passing on the shelf and pulling it venture, but it was a success. Very, very simple. The characters are a good age for preschool, and they're figuring out things (like right and left) that this age group is. And I think the kids could catch on to Henry doing everything backwards. Add to that the topic of friendship and compromising, and there's a lot more to the book than one would think. A fun lap-read as you point out things in the pictures, but I think I can make this work in storytime, too.

6/22/10 & 6/24/10 - Not bad, but not wow. Fun to tell the kids they were amazing like Amy because they could walk the right way, and buttered their bread on the right side. But I think they may have missed the humor in Henry's backwardness. That, or they didn't find it funny. Still, it worked in the friends theme of storytime that just arose from books that were laying around.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love introducing kids to this beautiful story - I read it aloud - and always just give a little, dramatic pause before the tree house. Every child is awed, bewitched and as they peer eagerly at every squiggle and curl, I just know they are desperately wishing for that very house in their own tree.

Giving children the confidence to be themselves comes from many tiny, almost inconsequential moments. This book is one of those little moments.

My son got it. "I like being a little bit different mum".
It is a very firm family favourite.

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL19356...

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute book. It is about a boy shoe does everything backwards and upside down and then meets a girl who does everything perfect. Amy teaches Henry "his front from his back" and "his right from his left". Later, when Amy realizes that she does not want to do everything so perfect, Henray teaches her "back-to-front and topsy turvy". They realize that they make a perfect team in the end.
The illustrations are adorable and it would be a good book to give to your significant other.

[Skye Kilaen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A charmer. Henry needs someone to teach him how to do things "right" whereas Amy wishes "everything she did wasn't so perfect." You see where this is going, right? King's art is soft and friendly, and the connection between these two is very sweet. One of our favorite kids' books about friendship.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The message of this book is about being different and how we can enjoy and benefit from each other's strengths and weaknesses. While it's not from a Biblical point of view it's still a wholesome message. It's a bit whimsical, a bit silly, a bit cute.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet story about friendship and how differing personalities can complement one another. The narrative is fun to read aloud and the illustrations are very cartoonish and cute. We enjoyed reading this story together.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how this book teaches that we can be our own person and that it's fun to learn new things from others.

[Nadine in NY Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the books listed in "1001 Children's Books"

*

Absolutely delightful!!

[Nicole Sandford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Opposites are great together. Grade 1-2.

[Amy Santkuyl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite :)

[Nix Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliantly illustrated story promoting how people with differing personalities can enrich one another's lives.

[Nat · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of our favourite books. Fantastic story and amazing illustrations.