Henry Finds His Word

PreS-K—Henry talks a lot, saying things like "Rah Rah Rah Rah Rah!" and "bbbghsh." Unfortunately, while he thinks what he says makes perfect sense, his parents don't understand him. The toddler decides to go searching for the right word, looking in his crib and in his toy box and even asking some of the animals in his backyard for help, albeit unsuccessfully. But when he loses sight of his mother, his first word finally comes to him, as he calls out, "Mama!" and his mother appears right by his side. Like adorable Henry, the writing is warm but also sensitive, particularly when he cannot find his mother: "Henry began to cry. Where was she? He needed her!" Ward also adds a touch of humor both with Henry's gibberish and at the end, when Henry uses his newfound word whenever he wants something. Ward's illustrations are created using pencil and pastel, making for soft colors and lines, which match the sweet, gentle tone of the story and young Henry himself. Like the title character of Robert Kraus's classic Leo the Late Bloomer (HarperCollins, 1979), Henry finds his first word in his own good time.—Laura J. Giunta, Garden City Public Library, NY