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Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Humor (Fiction.) HTML: Newbery Medal winner Beverly Cleary tells the story of a boy with a goal�??and the girl who helps him achieve it. Well-meaning Henry Huggins would do anything to get the bike of his dreams. But every idea he has keeps falling flat. Selling bubble gum on the playground gets him in trouble with his teacher. There's the paper route, but Henry's dog Ribsy nearly ruins that with his nose for mischief. Even pesky little Ramona Quimby manages to get in the way of Henry's chance at a bike. But it's with the help of his best friend Beezus that there may be a way. After all�??with a friend by your side, anything is possible. Don't miss the beloved classic Henry Huggins books from Beverly Cleary. Boys and girls alike will be charmed instantly by an average boy whose life is turned upside down when he meets a lovable puppy with a nose for mischief. These are truly classics that stand the test of time and still leave readers 7-13 smiling… (more)
User reviews
Henry's beginning to think he will not succeed in his mission to accrue money, especially after he enters a sweepstakes for the new shopping complex and wins ... gift certificates to the beauty salon. Then, in the last chapter, a miracle: some people actually want those useless vouchers he was going to throw in the trash. His mom, his aunt, Beezus, and many others pay Henry for his coupons for waves and beauty treatments. Astonished, Henry soon has almost enough money for the fancy red bike in the toy store window, and his parents provide the last few dollars. The story ends with Henry blissfully riding down the street on his new bike, his snap-on raccoon tail streaming in the wind, just like he had dreamed.
Another heart-warming story surrounding Henry and his dog. The characters Cleary created are so attuned to a child's personality that I am continually impressed. Yes, the story does show its age, in regards to technology and family structures and other peripheral matters, but the heart of the book is timeless. Her Henry stories are about innocence, and curiosity, and friendship and family. The story is not amazing or innovative, but quietly enjoyable. I sometimes like reading stories that are simple adventures with low stakes, the type of hijinks I would have encountered when I was younger. It's good to let our kids be kids, and this book does just that. The humor is strong, the adventures are believable and easily resolved, and the ending is satisfying. Another quality book by an acclaimed writer for children.
Fun read, good for all ages.
This was a fun little
My son and I loved comparing life in the 50s when this book was first published to life today. For instance, Henry sells gum to his friends at two pieces for a penny. A bag of chips cost a dime. My son thought this astounding but he knew this was a REALLY long time ago because his mom wasn’t even born yet.
I loved the wholesomeness of this book. That the kids in it were basically nice and said things like “jeepers”. No one was sassy to their parents like in so many middle-grade books today. This is a great book to read and discuss with your middle grade reader.
This is the second in the Henry Huggins series. My son is really enjoying these books. This one was pretty funny; we loved Ribsy collecting all the newspapers in the neighborhood and putting them on the porch. Cleary's
Read aloud to my 7-year-old in 2015.
I vaguely remember reading this book sometime during my childhood, back when I read other books about Henry and his dog, Ribsy. But I picked it up again since I've been revisiting the Ramona Quimby books, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Nothing like reading a tale from the 1950s, where kids say things like "Gee whillikers!" and really mean it. And if I once found this book to be funny, it was even funnier to me this time around. No, not just because somebody says "Gee whillikers!" but because the humor in the story is truly on point. Henry has quite the adventures in his efforts to raise money, and Beezus and Ramona add much to the fun of it all (even though it may not all be "fun" for them, exactly.)
There are a good bunch of reasons why Beverly Cleary was my favorite author as a child. A great story like this one is a good reason.
Originally published in 1952, it holds up remarkably well.