Henry's Heart

October 24, 2011
As Harper (Cupcake) points out, if we gave the objects of our affection valentines in the shapes of actual hearts, the response would most likely be “Ewww! What is that thing?” Nonetheless, Harper offers up a heroic heart that looks a lot like the real thing “without the eyes and mouth, of course,” and he’s an immensely appealing figure, ideal for teaching readers about this important organ. Henry’s heart is chatty, vigilant, and authoritative; when something isn’t to his liking, he shoots a question up to the eyes like a commanding general to a field scout. But what starts out as a biological overview led by an engaging, unlikely character and packed with funny asides turns into
a bit of a narrative mess, with Henry plunging into depression because he can’t have a dog. The solution is equally, well, halfhearted: Henry and his doctor have
“a nice long chat,” and Henry gets the dog. Harper’s acrylic illustrations never lose their pertness or energy, but a book that promises to be both whimsical and wise winds up woolly and confused. Ages 5–8.

October 1, 2011
Tongue-in-cheek, label-happy humor reminiscent of Mélanie Watts abounds in Harper's latest, a genius pairing of fiction and nonfiction. Starting off with some X-ray views of a young boy and his heart, readers are presented with some facts and misconceptions about the human heart, made painless by the humorous speech-bubble asides from Henry's sister and friends. One fact above all is emphasized--a healthy heart that pumps blood and removes waste requires exercise and proper nutrition. Therefore, Henry's mother sends him outside for some fresh air, and his Dad invites him for a walk downtown…the fateful walk on which he first sees the love of his life. She sets his heart beating so wildly that the anthropomorphized organ has to ask Henry's eyes what is going on to cause such a reaction. Leaving the puppy in the pet store seems to break poor Henry's spirit--he can only mope in his room, while his heart bemoans the lack of exercise. Henry's concerned parents finally consult a doctor, whose prescription pleases everyone, especially Henry's exercise-starved heart. Harper's acrylic-and-collage artwork with its filled-in stick figures is a perfect match for the irreverent humor of the text. From the amusing asides to the charts about healthy snacks and causes of rapid heartbeats, there will be few page turns unaccompanied by laughter. The story should please those hopeful readers who are puppy-starved themselves, while the learning hidden within should set parents' and educators' hearts aflutter. (Informational picture book. 5-8)

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November 1, 2011

K-Gr 3-Henry and his body are a team. His eyes and heart keep track of his activities to make sure he is getting enough exercise and eating the proper foods. When his heart feels that he is in love with a brown-haired girl, his eyes tell a different story. He has fallen for a little brown puppy. "Broken-hearted" when his father says no to adopting it, Henry slides into a slump. No exercise, no appetite, just sadness. Eyes and heart know something is wrong. So does Mom. She takes him to the doctor, who has a chat with the boy. A prescription is given, but Henry notices that Mom drives right past the pharmacy. Instead, his dad arrives with a puppy. A clever mix of fiction and nonfiction, this story weaves facts about the heart, healthy eating, and exercise into the narrative through conversations between Henry's heart and eyes. Humorous cartoon illustrations and charts about eating, feelings, and things that make a heart beat faster are also informative. This clever book is an excellent choice for storyhours and primary-grade classrooms.-Nancy Baumann, University of Missouri-Columbia, MO

Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.