O’Brien Press ISBN 978184719999 £7.99
This bright eye-catching picture book for children aged 4-7 years is based on the TV series “The Day Henry Met…” As the title suggests in this story Henry meets a dog who is saddened by the fact she does not have a best friend. The dog’s simple description of what she wants in a friend would lead to interesting discussion about what readers would look for in a friend. Henry decides to find dog her a friend. They adventure together in the jungle, in space and under the sea but fail to find dog the best friend she was looking for. Then she realises that Henry has become the best friend she needed all along. Hurray for Henry! Whilst the adults may have seen that coming it makes a great talking point for children, especially if you stop short of reading the last two pages. The text on the page is very varied in font type, size and layout mostly being in the form of speech bubbles. This style might appeal to more confident readers but could be tricky for younger ones. The book is ideal for reading aloud to children as there are lots of opportunities for characterisation and silly voices.
Jane Macleod