Easy Reader Radar: Henry Goes Skating by B.B. Bourne (Cybils Nominee)

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Henry Goes Skating. by B.B. Bourne. August 21, 2012. HarperCollins. 32 pages. ISBN: 9780061958212

Henry Goes Skating is the second easy reader to spin off from Brian Biggs’s Everything Goes series about different types of transportation. These spin-offs are written by B.B. Bourne and are illustrated by Simon Abbott drawing in the style of Brian Biggs. This story focuses on a winter theme, as Henry wakes up and discovers it is snowing. As he and his family make their way through the snow to go skating, they see cars, plows, trucks, policemen traveling on horses, and even a Zamboni before returning home again to make a snowman.

As I read this story, I could tell that the entire plot was set up to incorporate as many snow-related vehicles as possible. Though the story is ostensibly about Henry and his family going to the skating rink, this is really just an excuse to introduce the different modes of transportation people might use on a snowy day. Obviously, this makes sense, because the parent series this book is based on is all about transportation, but it bothered me a little bit that the plot didn’t have much substance outside of listing buses, dump trucks, plows, etc. Henry’s enthusiasm for the different vehicles helps, as I think little boys tend to get very excited about such things, but I still think the story could have done a better job of incorporating the transportation theme into the plot. It would have been more interesting if, for example, Henry’s family got stuck in ice, instead of just watching it happen to other people.

I like the artwork in this book, though it’s always a disappointment to learn that it’s not the work of the original artist. Biggs’s style is colorful, warm, and friendly, and these illustrations are, too, but I think it cheapens the reading experience a little bit when I realize these pictures are just imitations and not the real thing. The book is still very appealing to look at, though, and I haven’t seen it on the library shelf for more than 30 seconds since it arrived at my library.

Henry Goes Skating is a cozy Winter read for fans of Thomas the Tank Engine and Trucktown. Share it with your new reader on a snow day, or before you head out to sled or skate yourselves.

I borrowed Henry Goes Skating from my local public library. 

For more about this book, visit Goodreads and Worldcat.

NOTE: This book was nominated by Terry Doherty for the 2012 Cybils Awards in the Easy Reader/Early Chapter Book category. I am a first-round panelist in this category, but this review reflects my opinions only, not those of any other panelist, or the panel as a whole. Thanks!