Henry Climbs a Mountain

Rating:
Summary: The Bear Grows Up
Review: As the third of this illustrator's riffs on themes from Thoreau (this time, a take on HDT's famous night in jail), "Henry Climbs a Mountain" is not immediately as satisfying as the first two ("Henry Hikes to Fitchburg" and "Henry Builds a Cabin"). The illustrations have lost some of the joy that distinguishes the first two books. The colors seem more subdued and the scenes less captivating. (One picture in particular, where Henry begins to imagine his way into the jail-cell wall, is positively awkward.)

That said, "Henry Climbs" is the most resonant of the three. For a book of some thirty-two pages, there's a lot going on here: a "Harold and the Purple Crayon"-like meditation on art and creativity; a parable on freedom and slavery; even a comment (I think) on compassion and interconnectedness. It's no wonder this book isn't as fun as the first two! But it's still far from somber. Johnson's insertion of small creatures throughout, especially Henry's fellow cellmate (a mouse), brightens the mood considerably, and the whole book ends on a two-page spread that's appropriately vernal in its color and hope.

The Henry who stopped for blueberries on the way to Fitchburg and still arrived in time for a moonlight sit with his friend has changed. (I'd say he's not just for kids anymore, but then, he never really was.) It's good, though, to see this bear growing up just a little. One misses the ecstatic illustrations of "Fitchburg" and "Cabin," but I think "Climbs" will stick with the reader longer. This is one of the most intelligent picture books of the year--a worthy successor to Johnson's first two books and, like the others, a wonderful way to re-energize even a jaded adult's fondness for Thoreau.

Rating:
Summary: A beautiful look at social justice
Review: Have you ever wondered how to bring up the issue of social injustice to your children so that they will understand how important it is to strive for justice in this world? Heh, that's a bit far fetched, but this book is a beautiful introduction to standing up for what you think is right. Henry is going to climb a mountain, but he is put in jail when he refuses to pay taxes because his taxes would support slavery. In jail, Henry goes into a dream world in which he is climbing a mountain. When he gets to the top, he meets another bear that has no shoes. He asks the bear where he is going, and he gives the bear his shoes when he hears that he is walking to the north star. Henry goes back down the mountain and suffers pain from the sharp rocks and pebbles on the way down. When he is at the bottom, he says, "I feel like I'm at the top of the mountain!"

It introduces children to being kind to others and giving up our own comfort in order to ease the pain of another. It is a beautiful story with beautiful illustrations.

While reading this book, you can bring up Martin Luther King, Jr. because he was jailed in Birmingham when he was fined for his "illegal" protest, which was perfectly legal and peaceful. Talk about how people can help those in need. Talk of how kindness is more beneficial than selfishness.

I recommend this book for children five years of age or older. Adults can learn something from it, too!

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful art and story may even open up conversations
Review: Nearly every page of this story contains a passage to a thoughtful conversation with your child. The story is based on an incident from the life of Henry David Thoreau. Henry the bear is missing a shoe, and is on his way to the cobbler when he is stopped by the taxman and must spend a night in jail because he didn't pay. In the jail cell, Henry starts to draw on the walls and gets lost on his creative landscape, hiking up a mountain he created and meeting a friend. It is a beautiful, simple story that will provoke thoughtful questions. There is, for instance, an act of civil disobedience and its consequence. The breadth and power of imagination is also an important theme. A turning point in the story follows an act of generosity. Again, it is an entertaining story that may give you and a young reader lots to talk about together and for that it is highly recommended.