D.B. Johnson’s Henry Thoreau Books
A Series of Children’s Books Acquainting Kids with H.D. Thoreau
In four picture books, D.B. Johnson manages to convey Thoreau's message about nature - now so extra urgent - to children between the ages of 4 and 99 (and older).
Johnson’s Henry Series (four and counting)
D.B. Johnson has written and illustrated four wonderfully whimsical Henry books (published by Houghton Mifflin). The books are aimed at 4 to 8-year-olds, but their innovative illustrations and especially the humoristic and surprising stories will charm also older kids and adult.
The Henry in each title is a gentle, good-natured bear in nineteenth century garb who gets help from his friends “Emerson” and “Walcott”, also depicted as bears. Each story is imaginatively based on an episode from Thoreau’s life. These events are explained at the end of the book.
The text is minimal yet dense with meaning, as much or as little of which the reader can unpack for their young audience. Each book follows a formula: the contrast between Henry’s lifestyle and the ways of his well-meaning friends. It never gets old, or judgmental. Each story also has a funny twist to it, and it is a delight to see your little one “get it’ for the first time after reading it to her many times.
The illustrations are colorful and soft, with some interesting techniques for rendering depth and dimension. Some of the pages are a wonder to behold, like when it is raining and the entire picture is diffracted to a kaleidoscopic effect.
- In Henry Hikes to Fitchburg (2000), two bears, Henry and his friend, wager who will make it to Fitchburg first. The friend decides to take the train, the typically mild-mannered Henry decides to walk, that being “the fastest way to travel.” The book proceeds to contrast the execution of the friend’s plan with Henry’s progress. As the friend performs a series of jobs in the busy town so he can pay for the train ride, Henry walks, carves a stick, collects flowers, climbs a tree, eats blackberries. Each page counts down the amount of money made / the amount of miles left. In the end, Henry has certainly enjoyed his walk, but did the friend enjoy his work? Without moralizing, the leisurely yet observant and respectful life in nature is shown to be the most rewarding of the two. It doesn’t earn you any money, but it has more lasting rewards and doesn’t cost much either.
- Henry Builds a Cabin (2002) is also inspired by Walden. Asthe bear, Henry, slowly completes his cabin at Walden Pond, he is visited by his friends. Each has some advice: Isn’t it too small to eat and to dance in, too dark to read in? “It’s bigger than it looks,” responds Henry. For Thoreau, nature – the nature around his cabin - was his home. And for this bear, the cabin is merely something to “wear when it’s raining”. Nature is depicted as a house, indeed a palace, where one can live a full and fulfilling life.
- In Henry Climbs a Mountain (2003), Henry is on his way to climb a mountain and goes via the town of Concord to pick up his other shoe, which is at the shoemaker. He is stopped, however, by the tax collector, who carts him off to jail for not paying his taxes. In the whitewashed jail cell Henry pulls a Harold and the Purple Crayon. Using his crayons, he draws himself a second shoe, a mountain and a walk, and a meeting at the summit with a barefooted stranger, to whom he gives his shoes. Nature is a central theme: it gives a jailed bear solace, freedom and an occasion for imagination. It is also the perfect place to introduce the second theme, that of slavery and ethical behavior – even though it lands you in jail. The first theme will delight the youngest ones and the second theme will not be lost on the older little readers.
- Henry Works(2004) is the last installment. In this book, Henry is told by his friends that he isn’t doing anything. He doesn’t contradict them, and merely says he is “walking to work”. On this walk, he digs up a healing plant for a sick neighbor, builds a path, warns neighbors of a storm, waters the wildflowers, and transplants some destructive woodchucks. The reader realizes that these seemingly meaningless (some would say lazy) goings-about are “real work”, which cannot be measured by the money it brings in. It all comes together when Henry reveals that he is writing a book based on exactly this “walk to work”. Nature is the place where one can always be useful and decisive. It may not pay a wage, but it never leaves you un-employed.
D.B. Johnson has an unerring feeling for Henry David Thoreau, for children, and for adults. Each of his Henry books faithfully interprets Thoreau’s message about nature and man's role in it, and makes it fresh and relevant for its readers, young and old.
Still not convinced? You can read the books in their entirety on Johnson’s website.
Read about five more books introducing Henry David Thoreau to children here.
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