Review of A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey

Authors

Jacy A. Stahlhut, Cedarville UniversityFollow

Publisher

Chronicle Books

City

San Francisco, California, United States of America

Date of Publication

2019

ISBN

9781452167916

Date of Review

2020

Disciplines

Library and Information Science | Modern Literature

Keywords

Children's literature, reviews, autism

Review

Henry searches for a friend among his classmates but has difficulty finding anyone who respects his need for space, order, and consistency. At last, Henry finds a companion in kind and quiet Katie; or rather, Katie finds him. A Friend for Henry could serve as a comfort for young children with autism or perhaps as a catalyst for discussing behavioral disorders with children. Although Bailey wrote the book with the purpose of autism awareness, the story itself does not provide explanation for Henry’s abnormal behavior. This ambiguity makes the book less pertinent to a classroom setting. Henry clearly has difficulty interacting with his peers, but some might find it troubling that throughout the story, he does not learn to express his unique needs clearly, nor do the other children learn how to be attentive to these needs. Additional Purchase Jacy Stahlhut, Centennial Library Intern, Cedarville University

Recommended Citation

Stahlhut, Jacy A., "Review of A Friend for Henry by Jenn Bailey" (2020). Library Intern Book Reviews. 270.
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/intern_book_reviews/270

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