Henry Builds a Cabin

The many devout fans of author D.B. Johnson's award-winning Henry Hikes to Fitchburg will be tickled to see another title featuring the placid, self-contained Henry. Johnson's kaleidoscopic colored-pencil and paint illustrations are as fascinating as Henry's perspectives on what a home can be. As in his first title, Johnson makes quiet allusions to other luminaries of Thoreau's time, including Ralph Waldo Emerson and Bronson Alcott. (Ages 5 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Product Description
How big does a home really need to be? When Henry decides to build a cabin for himself in the woods, he gets some help and a lot of advice from his friends. But Henry, being Henry, has his own ideas, and he sets about building his house as a bird builds its nest. As he adds everything he thinks his cabin needs, Henry"s new home ends up being a lot bigger than it looks!

Inspired by the life of Henry David Thoreau, and illustrated with nature-filled paintings by author and artist D. B. Johnson, Henry Builds a Cabin is a thoughtful and beautiful meditation on what a home can be.

The best parts are the three guests who interrupt Henry's work, each one suggesting some shortcoming in Henry's construction. The cabin is too small to eat or dance in, they suggest, too dark to read in. Each time, Henry beautifully and effortlesy turns these criticisms upside down. He patiently (and with quiet enthusiasm) explains that by living in nature he has annexed all of the space and sun and beauty around him. His cabin is the entire woods and the whole pond. Thoreau's individualism emerges through these confounding, whimsical dialogues.

D. B. Johnson, the author, conveys all of this in graceful, clear, subtle little exchanges. The talk is all quite concrete and easily grasped, so kids have no problem with the story. Yet Johnson's language also carries Thoreau's deeper meaning, in clever and refreshing ways.

The zestful, kinetic pictures provide rich pleasure. Click on the sample pages and see for yourself! Reminiscent of early cubism and of the figurative work of Kazimir Malevich, the illustrations divide the picture plane into coutless little segments. Johnson blends them pleasingly yet also uses them to demonstrate the wonder that every little corner of nature holds for the alert eye. In his fragments of the field of view, Johnson might include a butterfly, a squirrel, a rabbit, a cardinal or bluejay, rain drops, falling leaves, on and on. Trees and pond, sky and clearings all appear active, filled with spirit. Kids will love finding and noticing and searching, for these illustrations continually surprise: they make your eyes think! Pieces of nature intersect through the cabin windows, and the wonderfully broken view swirls around Henry and his visitors in a vivid depiction of our connectiveness to nature--one of Thoreau's central beliefs.

In sum, an efficient and expressive meeting of story, thought, and imagery.


Perfect Baby Shower Gift!!   February 11, 2003
mamareadssomuch
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

We borrowed this book from the library and I must buy a copy for my 3yr old. He loves it. The illustrations are unique and so pleasing to the eye. They are a little abstract but not too much so you can't see what is being conveyed.

Henry builds a cabin but his friends doesn't think it's big enough. Henry says it's big enough for all kinds of things. In the end, you find out what the cabin is perfect for.

Delightful read and a sure bet for a Baby Shower Gift!


A book for all ages   December 16, 2002
11 out of 11 found this review helpful

I'm 12 but I really like this picture book. I learned a lot about what Henry Thoreau was trying to do when he built a cabin by Walden Pond, and it was fun learning it through this book. The illustrations are funny and I like how Henry solves his problems. I also like Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, which is even funnier because Henry makes his friend learn a lesson in a funny way. I also recommend another great book about Henrey Thoreau, that especially girls of all ages will like, Louisa May and Mr. Thoreau's Flute. It talks about how Henrey Thoreau helped Louisa May Alcott learn to like the outdoors and learn to like writing. Henry's funny in that book too so I think readers will like it too.