Henry Is An Artist
Henry is a pup who celebrates art in all its forms, and sculpture is his favorite. He is especially proud of the artistic shapes he creates when out for a walk. Imagine his dismay when his masterpieces are quickly picked up and deposited in the trash can. Young readers will be sure to cheer Henry on as one of his sculptures is recognized and put on display in a safe place by some tiny admirers. If this book is not number one on your list for clever, comical, and heartwarming tales, it must surely be a solid number two.
Pennsylvania Center for the Book Awards
Book Activities & Discussion Ideas
Even adults will not be able to resist the urge to create some clay or playdough sculptures after reading about Henry. Clay is a fun medium for open-ended art and also can be used in structured activities when forming letters, numbers, and shapes. This is also an opportunity to engage in nature-based learning. Children can work with adults to create their own “bug hotel,” using logs, bark, pine cones, and sticks to create a sturdy frame with lots of space for bugs to enter and crawl. The hotel can be placed in a dry, stable outdoor area and visited often to see if any guests have booked a stay!
Children will quickly pick up on the humor within this story, and the way Henry creates his sculptures. They will delight in having a grown up enjoy the silly parts with them as they read together. Adults can also point out some of the less obvious aspects of the story by asking children why Henry’s person always puts his artwork in the trash can. Do they mean to hurt Henry’s feelings? Also, can they figure out why Henry’s sculpture was left behind for the bugs to find? Children often see the details in illustrations that adults can sometimes miss. Asking questions and pausing to listen helps adults see children’s perspective and supports comprehension!