Henry Huggins

An older book that has stood the test of time - funny with situations that kids this age can still relate to. My son and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it together.more

Cleary is known for her charming Ramona series, which brings to life a rambunctious girl, but she has a deft hand at capturing a young boy's perspective, too. The Mouse and the Motorcycle series, whose protagonist is Ralph S. Mouse, indicates her skill in that arena. This book features another boy, human this time - Henry Huggins. I had never read any of her Henry Huggins series prior to now, and am delighted to discover that she wrote another finely realized character.The book begins with a meeting of boy and dog. Henry is on his way home, when he decides to adopt a skinny dog he finds on the street. He calls his mom for permission, and is told that as long as he can get the dog home on the bus, he can keep it. His mom is too busy to come get them. Unfortunately, the bus line has a rule: no pets unless they're in a box. Henry, the youngster that he is, decides an empty grocer's box will do, and is frustrated when the driver says nay. In a stroke of genius, he hides the dog in a shopping bag, piles paper over him, and hopes for the best. The worst occurs. Somehow Henry and the dog make it home, but only after knocking down everyone on the bus, scattering their possessions, and then being escorted in a police car. Still, he gets the dog home, so he can keep it. Henry dubs his new dog Ribsy, because he is so thin his ribs show through his skin.The rest of the book regales the reader with more episodes like that of the first chapter. Henry is all enthusiasm and awkwardness. He embarks on adventures one would expect of a boy, such as saving money for a football, or entering his dog in a show. Often catastrophe ensues, not because Henry means any ill, but because he is young and still doesn't grasp all the consequences of his actions. He is a sweet boy, though, and while he may cause his parents a bit of frustration, everything comes out right in the end. I liked the book and could definitely read more about Henry. His expeditions are funny and innocent. They certainly remind me of the simplicity of childhood, and how things that I often overlook now were so important back then. Henry's character is engaging, and Ribsy is such a dog. Cleary has a knack for writing about children and animals. I'm excited to read the Henry and Beezus book, where characters from two great series will overlap. This story is a great choice for children and adults.more

From page one, with his gloomy outlook on life and case of third grade ennui, you can't help but love Henry Huggins. His extreme propensity for accidents, combined with complete obliviousness, firmly cement Henry as one of the most memorable characters from children's lit... at least as far as I'm concerned. I remember reading about him in grade school, wishing I had a friend like him, and asking my mom for pet guppies. She said no. Fast forward a few years and now I'm a mother identifying with my own and Henry's (I giggled every time the poor woman said, "Oh, Henry." and Henry asked, "What? It was an accident..."). I was so happy when I discovered there are a total of six books about Henry and Ribsy, a couple of which I haven't read. I can't wait to read them with my son soon, and again when he's old enough to ask for pet guppies. I already know what I'm going to say.more

Summary: This book is about a boy named Henry Huggins. He is always bored until one day he comes across a stray dog. He ends up naming this dog Ribsy because the dog is so skinny. This is when the adventure for Henry begins. He first has to try to get this dog home which presents many challenges for Henry. His adventures continue through the book and Henry is never bored again. Response: I loved reading this book especially for my love of dogs. Connection: Read Aloud; Kids would enjoy the humor in this book and would be able to relate to this book. Every kid loves animals and adventure!more

When young Henry Huggins finds Ribsy, the thin abandoned dog, on the street, he does not know what he is in for.more

ONe of the best stories of a boy and his dog. My children loved it and I loved it. I had read this when I was a child and many memories came flooding back. What a wonderful story of kids interactions with their pets, each other and their parents.more

This book is the first book in the Henry Huggins collection and is about Henry and the stray dog he finds, Ribsy. I really like this book. It is a great chapter book for those who are ready to move beyond the easy chapter books to chapters that are a little longer and there is very minimal illustration in this book, not to mention the adventures the boy and his dog get into! I have often heard that young boys have a difficult time finding good chapter books, and this is one book that I would recommend for two reasons: 1. it is about a boy and his adventures as a boy and 2. it is the first in a collection, so there is a good change the young men who choose to read this book will continue reading the books that follow. I recommend this book for my library (medium public library).more

this book is GREAT it's the best book I have ever read!!!more

I never did read much Cleary growing up...but since the Girl is having some trouble getting into book, I thought this might be a good one for her...and I was right, she absolutely LOVED it. Henry Huggins (like How to Eat Fried Worms) is a bit dated, since it was written in 1949, but the overall feel and character of the story is pretty much timeless. We are presented with a typical neighborhood, family, kids, neighbors of the time that, despite the way we live life today, is presented in a way that is still accessible to kids today (even those not living in suburban neighborhoods. Henry is a typical boy who wants a bit of excitement in his life...and finds it while browsing at the local convenience store, in the form of Ribsy as skinny mutt who he decides to take home (with his mother's permission of course)...on the BUS! This is first of 5 adventures that Henry and Ribsy encounter as they go on through the book (we also get raising guppies, catching thousands of night crawlers, a charming look at Christmas pageants and snow from a 9 year olds perspective, the dog show, and the prospect of Henry having to give up Ribsy). Each is charming and still endearing more than 50 years after it was originally written. We are presented with stories that show Henry as honest and hard working, we learn to have compassion for others and that doing the right thing is always important...all in a humorous and realistic way that doesn't feel like the message is being shoved down our throats! I give it a solid A, even after 50+ years, Henry Huggins is fine reading for 8-10 year olds!more

Always fun for my 6 y.o. Sonmore

Six classic short funny stories, all with a good ending, about a boy and his dog. Audio read by Neil Patrick Harris, with an introduction read by Beverly Cleary and an interview with her at the conclusion of the recording.more