Written by New York Times Bestselling Author Andy Andrews, this book is billed as a "hilarious rhyming story."While it was sweet and the art was, as promised, charming, I didn't find it hilarious by any stretch of the word. A little bit silly, it was generally a very "regular" story about a little boy who, feeling lonely, is given a dog by his parents.
The conclusion sentence sums up what the author is trying to instill in children through this book:
Henry didn't need a funny pet,
Colored yellow or blue,
But a one-of-a-kind friend,
Just like your friends need you.
At some point, almost every child struggles with feeling like they don't fit in or are left out -- just like Henry Hodges. I appreciated the author trying to make that point. However, I just didn't feel like this story did a good job of reaching "every" child.
I personally wasn't a huge fan of his feelings of loneliness being because he lived on a quiet street without a lot of children. I felt the reason for his loneliness was very narrowed. There are many kids who live on quiet streets that don't feel lonely.
I also wasn't a fan of a dog solving his problems. As a dog lover, I love books about dogs. And I agree that they can truly make sadness in your life, lift considerably. However, there are many children who aren't able to get a pet. And even if they are, a pet isn't a friend. They are very different things.
Generally, I thought this book was very sweet and the art very charming, but the storyline itself just seemed a little ordinary and narrow.
Not my personal cup of tea.
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