High-Wire Henry

by Mary Calhoun, Erick Ingraham (Illustrator)

Overview

Henry, a Siamese cat, is well-loved by his family. But when a new pup is added to the mix and starts getting all of the attention, he gets his dander up. It's time to show them what a smart cat can do! In the end, Henry gets to show off his high-wire skills in an unexpected rescue!

Calhoun's telling of this exciting story is both clear and endearing. Illustrator Ingraham's watercolors highlight the action and the main characters with realistic detail. The fast pace, plot twists, and clear resolution of the adventure make this story a natural read-aloud.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781635618488
Publisher:	Echo Point Books & Media
Publication date:	02/05/2019
Edition description:	Reprint ed.
Pages:	42
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.11(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

Editorial Reviews

Sibling rivalry is not restricted to humans, or even siblings, as Calhoun tells her story about the cat who is displaced when a puppy is introduced to the family. (``When The Man brought a puppy in, Henry went out . . . and stayed out.'') Through the window, the aggrieved Siamese watches as The Kid and The Woman join The Man playing with the tiny newcomer. Ingraham's muted illustrations are soft and clear, and fill the borderless pages with tender scenes of summer. His appealing, expressive animals are the real stars, however, and they are amusingly aided by Calhoun's acute sounds (``Yeef,'' ``Warf,'' ``Yow yowie meowl''). Henry is so desperate to regain the attention of his family that he becomes a high-wire performer, first on the fence and then on the clothesline and telephone wire. But it is not until he saves the pup from a high ledge that he feels like part of the family again. Ages 5-up. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Gr 1-3-- A new story about the proud, adventurous, and accomplished Siamese cat featured in Hot-Air Henry (1981) and Cross-Country Cat (1979, both Morrow). Here, Henry feels his position in the family is threatened by a new puppy. Anxious to prove himself more clever than the dog, he decides to become a high-wire walker, but an embarrassing fall almost makes him abandon the scheme. When the puppy foolishly climbs out on a window ledge, however, only Henry can reach him by walking the telephone line, and he accepts his praise with total satisfaction. The animals in the realistic pictures are especially well drawn, and Henry's every emotion is aptly captured. The full-color illustrations are large enough to use with groups, and upper primary-grade reluctant readers will welcome this as an easy - reading picture book with illustrations that have an adult appearance. This is a laugh-out-loud book that will have young listeners and readers in total sympathy with Henry, for his anger, hurt, frustration, and attention-getting antics mirror the emotions of any new sibling. --Danita Nichols, New York Public Library

School Library Journal