Written and Drawn by Henrietta (Toon Books Level 3)

Written and Drawn by Henrietta (Toon Books Level 3)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

Also available in Spanish as Escrito y dibujado por Enriqueta

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Reading books is fun . . . but what about making them? Armed with new colored pencils, Henrietta's ready to try. Peek over her shoulder as she draws the story of a brave young girl, a three-headed monster, and an impossibly wide world of adventure. Whether read aloud to a toddler or discovered by a young reader, Liniers' celebration of the creative process is sure to make everyone want to bring out their pencils.

Ricardo Siri Liniers, known as Liniers, is the author of Macanudo, a daily comic strip hugely popular in Argentina, now available in English. His US debut, The Big Wet Balloon, a TOON Book, was nominated for an Eisner Award and chosen as one of Parents' Top 10 Children's Books. He lives in Buenos Aires with his wife and three daughters, Matilda, Clementina, and Emma, whom he credits as inspirations for this book.

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Publishers Weekly

Starred Review

As this story-within-a-story begins, Henrietta has just received a new box of colored pencils. She starts right in, drawing and writing a story she calls "The Monster with Three Heads and Two Hats." In the uproarious, childlike style Liniers (The Big Wet Balloon) uses for Henrietta's work, the monster's heads look like three enraged jack-o'-lanterns. "It's nighttime... Emily's in bed," Henrietta imagines, drawing Emily staring with wide-open eyes. "I'm scaring myself..." Henrietta says. Throughout, Liniers documents the way that Henrietta is both the source of her creation and the object of its emotional force; when the monster meets an even larger monster, Henrietta reacts with a yell at what she's drawn. There's plenty of laughter, too, as when the monster complains about the size of Emily's wardrobe: "We've been looking for a hat in there for months." Henrietta explains to her cat, Fellini, "You see, the wardrobe was made in Narnia." Liniers's creation brims with the power of invention, and Henrietta's boldness (and her confidence in her own talent) inspires. A Spanish-language edition is available simultaneously. Ages 5-up. (Sept.)

Copyright 2015 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

School Library Journal

Starred Review

Gr 2-4--Henrietta is a young girl who has just received a new box of colored pencils, which she describes as "owning a piece of the rainbow." And that is exactly how this book is illustrated, with bright, thickly applied colors in childlike drawings that reinforce the mood and action of the text. Liniers offers a book within a book; Henrietta is the author and illustrator of a story starring herself. In between panels, Henrietta consults her talking cat Fellini, who offers his sometimes philosophical advice and checks up on Henrietta's writing progress. Her story begins with a secret closet, much like the well known one from the Narnia series. To Emily's surprise, out pops a monster with three heads (but only two hats). The young author and My Favorite (her beloved stuffed animal) embark on a journey through the closet to help her monster friend find another hat, aided by an almost silent mouse who gives excellent directions and helps them escape from a big red monster. At one point, Henrietta is so invested in her artwork and the creation of her story that she scares herself (and perhaps a few sensitive readers as well.) The Spanish language version is just as delightful--perhaps even more humorous. VERDICT This title is sure to be a hit with emerging readers and young fans of graphic/cartoon stories during storytime or independent reading. --Martha Rico, El Paso ISD, TX

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

2016 Mildred L. Batchelder Award Honor

Association for Library Service to Children 2016 Notable Children's Books

2016 Association for Library Service to Children Graphic Novels Reading List

School Library Journal Best Books of 2015

The Horn Book Magazine's Fanfare List of 2015

Little Maverick Star
Texas Library Association's Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List 2016

Kirkus Prize 2015 Nominee for Young Reader's Literature

FIVE starred reviews for Henrietta!

"Henrietta and her creator are kindred spirits, displaying equal knacks for the surreal and the utterly charming...This effervescent package opens to reveal plenty of wisdom." - Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW

"Liniers's creation brims with the power of invention, and Henrietta's boldness (and her confidence in her own talent) inspires." - Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

"Liniers' playful graphic novel is an ideally accessible alchemy of engaging, energetic storytelling and a fresh artistic perspective." - Booklist STARRED REVIEW

"Sure to be a hit with emerging readers and young fans of graphic/cartoon stories during storytime or independent reading." - School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW

"Liniers works magic here." - Horn Book Magazine STARRED REVIEW

"This book is the perfect jumping-off point to get your own kids drawing and telling their own stories — it's exactly what my little guy and I did when I was done reading this one to him." - What'cha Reading?

"It's not often that cartoonists earn legitimate comparisons to comic strip maestros Charles Schultz and Bill Watterson, but that's what Argentinian artist Liniers has achieved." - Publishers Weekly

"Speaks to the restorative power of art and its ability to communicate what cannot be communicated with written or spoken language." - Rob Clough for High-Low

"Monstrously touching and funny story." - Mile High Books

"We are in love, besotted, absolutely gaga." - Pickle Me This

"Written and Drawn by Henrietta, paired with some art supplies and paper, would make THE PERFECT GIFT for any young, aspiring author/illustrator." - I Sniff Books

"Children with dreams of writing their own books will love this journey through creativity." - Waking Brain Cells

"Any teacher, librarian, or other educator who works with young writers should own a copy of this book, as should library collections with a high demand for easy readers in graphic format." - Story Time Secrets

"A celebration of a child's creative process, told in cartoon form. Readers will enjoy both Henrietta's book and her efforts to produce it in this colorful easy reader." - A Kids Books A Day
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781935179900
Lexile Measure
490
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Toon Books
Publication date
September 29, 2015
Series
Toon Books Level Three
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV047000 - Juvenile Fiction | Books & Libraries
JUV008000 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | General
JUV003000 - Juvenile Fiction | Art & Architecture
Library of Congress categories
Imagination
Authorship
Graphic novels
Imagination in children
Drawing
JUVENILE FICTION / Humorous Stories
Comics (Graphic works)
JUVENILE FICTION / Comics & Graphic Novels /
JUVENILE FICTION / Readers / Intermediate
JUVENILE FICTION / Concepts / Words
Mildred L. Batchelder Award
Honor Book 2016 - 2016

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