The Great Henry Hopendower

April 1, 2017
A young boy performs a magic trick (of a sort) in memory of his grandfather.Henry is a smiling, round-headed, white boy who bounces out of bed one morning and decides to seek some magic. He dons a red plaid jacket, packs up a battered leather suitcase, and heads to his backyard. Along the way he chats with his mom in the kitchen and remembers time spent with his grandfather. Pulling a black top hat from his suitcase, Henry fishes about inside it for a rabbit. Initially disappointed to feel nothing at all, Henry is heartened by remembering his grandfather's admonition that "magic is...all around." Readers may not quite follow Henry's logic when a rabbit still doesn't appear, but he's perfectly satisfied, particularly when he discovers that pancakes are on the breakfast menu. Roberts' sophisticated text tells a bit more than it shows, and some of his descriptions may be a bit obscure (will young readers grasp that "magic-scented water" is most likely aftershave?). Hocking's illustrations, created with watercolor, graphite, colored pencil, and Photoshop, faithfully and charmingly depict the characters and action. Sepia tones indicate sections when Henry is reminiscing, and visual details fill in some of the family's history. Ultimately, however, the disconnect between the cheerful illustrations and the serious subject matter is disconcerting and may make it difficult for Henry to find an appreciative audience. (Picture book. 4-7)

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October 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-A young aspiring magician reflects upon lessons learned from his grandfather. Henry puts on a red checked suit, grabs a vintage brown leather suitcase, and heads to the backyard to assemble an audience of stuffed animals and curious squirrels. As the tousled-haired, freckle-faced boy prepares for his magic show, he reminisces about time spent with his beloved mentor. Henry fondly remembers his grandpa's outstanding coin tricks, the smell of his "magic-scented water" aftershave, and his tasty, gravity-defying "leaning tower of pancakes." When his own attempt at magic flops, he finds solace and creative inspiration in Grandpa's sage advice: "To be a magician, you have to notice that magic is everywhere." In Hocking's watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil illustrations, Henry's recollections appear in sepia tones, capturing the warm, loving intergenerational relationship. In a particularly moving scene, the little boy and his mother, holding hands, stand in Grandpa's empty house. VERDICT Probably best shared one-one-one, but Henry's resilience could spark a discussion about loss and keeping memories alive.-Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ont.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2017
Grades K-2 Henry starts his day determined to find magic. After all, Henry was witness to his grandfather's own brand of magic: leaning pancake towers that never fell, magic scented water he would put on after shaving, and coins Henry's grandfather would pull from behind Henry's ear. No matter how much Henry tries to recreate the magic and become the Great Henry Hopendower, he just can't seem to get it right. Until, of course, he remembers Grandpa's truly magic words: magic is everywhere. This is a sensitive, sweet story about a little boy and his grandfather. Though some of the nuances may go over young readers' heads, including why Grandpa's house is now empty, and the ending in general, that doesn't diminish the warm, empowering atmosphere of the story. Hocking's illustrations, done in watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil, are nicely expressive, switching to more subdued tones when Henry remembers his grandpa. While the subtleties might be a bit too subtle for little ones, the overall message will charm.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)