Cover Image

Henry hikes to Fitchburg

by Johnson, D. B. 1944-

Format: Book on CD 2001
Availability: Available at 1 Library 1 of 1 copy

Available (1)
Location Collection Call #
Sewickley Public Library Juvenile Audiovisual CD JE JOH
Location  Sewickley Public Library
 
Collection  Juvenile Audiovisual
 
Call Number  CD JE JOH
 
 

Summary
A New York Times Bestselling picture book inspired by the life of Henry David Thoreau!



"A masterpiece."--Daniel Pinkwater, NPR Weekend Edition?



Inspired by a passage from Walden, this story follows two friends who have very different approaches to life. When the two agree to meet one evening in Fitchburg, which is thirty miles away, each decides to get there in his own way. The two have drastically different journeys...with surprisingly similar results.



The Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and Ezra Jack Keats Writer Award winning Henry Hikes to Fitchburg is the first book in the Henry series.
Published Reviews
Booklist Review: "Ages 4^-8. Henry the bear and his friend decide to visit Fitchburg, a country town some 30 miles away. Henry asserts that walking is the fastest way to get there, but his friend thinks the train is best. They agree to meet in Fitchburg to see which of them is right. As Henry begins his hike, his friend goes off to earn money for the train fare. It won't take long for adults to realize that Henry is no average bear. He's an ursine Henry David Thoreau (and looks the part), engaging in a simple competition to gently expose children to Thoreau's view of life. While his friend fills the woodbox in Mrs. Alcott's kitchen, Henry rock-hops across the Sudbury River. While his friend pulls weeds in Mr. Hawthorne's garden, Henry presses ferns and flowers in a book. And while his friend cleans out Mrs. Thoreau's chicken house, Henry crosses a swamp and finds a bird's nest. While his friend, having finally earned the fare, rides a train bound for Fitchburg, Henry, nearly there, eats his fill in a blackberry patch. Although the commuter does reach Fitchburg ahead of the hiker, Henry smilingly responds with bemused understatement: "I stopped for blackberries." This splendid book works on several levels. Johnson's adaption of a paragraph taken from Thoreau's Walden (set down in an author's note) illuminates the contrast between materialistic and naturalistic views of life without ranting or preaching. His illustrations are breathtakingly rich and filled with lovingly rendered details. The angular, art-deco-influenced spreads are beautifully colored, thoughtfully designed, funny, and interesting, demonstrating Johnson's virtuosic control of his craft. Young children will like the story itself; older ones may be inspired to talk about the period in American history and the still relevant issues Thoreau raised. --Tim Arnold"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "In our Best Books citation, PW wrote, "It's hard to imagine making Thoreau's philosophy comprehensible and accessible to young readers, but Johnson pulls it off." Ages 4-8. (Nov.) n (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved"
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Additional Information
Series Henry series
#1 - Henry hikes to Fitchburg
#2 - Henry builds a cabin
#3 - Henry climbs a mountain
#4 - Henry works
Subjects Thoreau, Henry David, -- 1817-1862 -- Juvenile fiction.
Thoreau, Henry David, -- 1817-1862 -- Fiction.
Nature stories.
Walking -- Juvenile fiction.
Bears -- Juvenile fiction.
Friendship -- Juvenile fiction.
Nature -- Fiction.
Walking -- Fiction.
Bears -- Fiction.
Friendship -- Fiction.
Publisher [Weston, CT] : [New York] :Weston Woods ;2001
Scholastic,
Contributors Naughton, James, 1945-
Participants/Performers Narrated by James Naughton.
Other Contributors Music, Jon Carroll.
Language English
Notes Compact disc.
Track 1: with page-turn signals (5:31 min.); track 2: without page-turn signals (5:26 min.); track 3: About Henry (2:42 min.).
"Weston Woods read-along CD."
Book published: Boston : Houghton Mifflin, c2000.
Description 1 audio disc (approximately 6 min.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 book ([30] pages : color illustrations ; 24 x 28 cm)
ISBN 9780618737499 (pbk bk)
1555929532 (CD)
9781555929534 (CD)
0395968674 (book)
9780395968673 (book)
Other Classic View