Starred Review for Publishers Weekly

Freelance illustrator Johnson models his striking debut on a passage from Walden, in which Thoreau advocates journeying on foot over buying a ticket to ride. Henry, a brown bear attired in a brick-red duster and wide-brimmed sun hat, is a kinder, gentler fellow than his cantankerous inspiration. His ursine friend, wearing town clothes and conspicuously toting a pocket watch, makes plans to meet him in Fitchburg, a town 30 miles distant. Spreads contrast the pair's respective travel strategies: on the left, Henry's friend does chores for unseen Mrs. Alcott, Mr. Hawthorne and Mr. Emerson to earn train fare; right-handed pages picture a leisurely Henry examining flora and fauna, admiring the view and excavating a honey tree as he strides toward his destination. At the end of the summer day, """"His friend sat on the train in a tangle of people./ Henry ate his way through a blackberry patch."""" Johnson inventively demonstrates Thoreau's advice with kaleidoscopic illustrations in variegated colors and gently skewed perspectives that weigh fast-paced urban existence against an unmaterialistic life in the woods. Both bears make it to Fitchburg, but Henry's friend wears a blank stare, in contrast to Henry's bright-eyed, curious gaze. Johnson implies what money can and cannot buy, and encourages slowing down to experience nature. With graceful understatement, he presents some complicated ideas assuredly and accessibly. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)

School Library Journal (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

K-Gr 4-This video adaptation of D.B. Johnson's picture book (HM, 2000) is a lighthearted introduction to the Transcendental ideas of Henry David Thoreau. Johnson's book is based upon a passage from Thoreau's Walden in which a friend asks Thoreau why he does not take the train. Thoreau's response, that in taking the train one would spend the greater part of the day working for the ticket money rather than enjoying the trip, is illustrated here by Henry the bear and his friend. Henry spends a leisurely day hiking to Fitchburg, enjoying the scenery and pressing flowers into his book, while his friend spends the day working odd jobs to earn the ticket money. Though his friend does get to Fitchburg first, the message is clear ("I stopped for blackberries," says Henry). The video, narrated by James Naughton, pans the illustrations from the book and uses carefully chosen spot animation to liven up the story. Background music by Jon Carroll differentiates Henry's leisurely journey from the hectic pace of his friend's life. A short biographical segment on Henry David Thoreau concludes the video, offering context and explaining the story's origins. Though targeted to younger children, this would also be a lively addition to classes on Transcendentalism for older students.-Kathleen Kelly MacMillan, Maryland School for the Deaf, Columbia Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Horn Book (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2000)

In this book, inspired by a passage in Walden, Henry and his friend are two bears who want to go to Fitchburg. Henry sets out on foot, and along the way he makes a walking stick, collects wildflowers, and finds a birds' nest. His friend labors until he has earned the money for a train ticket. The message is pure Thoreau: Henry has had by far the more valuable and rewarding journey. Nattily dressed bears inhabit nineteenth-century scenes in the stylized illustrations.

Starred Review ALA Booklist (Sat Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 2000)

Starred Review Henry the bear and his friend decide to visit Fitchburg, a country town some 30 miles away. Henry asserts that walking is the fastest way to get there, but his friend thinks the train is best. They agree to meet in Fitchburg to see which of them is right. As Henry begins his hike, his friend goes off to earn money for the train fare. It won't take long for adults to realize that Henry is no average bear. He's an ursine Henry David Thoreau (and looks the part), engaging in a simple competition to gently expose children to Thoreau's view of life. While his friend fills the woodbox in Mrs. Alcott's kitchen, Henry rock-hops across the Sudbury River. While his friend pulls weeds in Mr. Hawthorne's garden, Henry presses ferns and flowers in a book. And while his friend cleans out Mrs. Thoreau's chicken house, Henry crosses a swamp and finds a bird's nest. While his friend, having finally earned the fare, rides a train bound for Fitchburg, Henry, nearly there, eats his fill in a blackberry patch. Although the commuter does reach Fitchburg ahead of the hiker, Henry smilingly responds with bemused understatement: I stopped for blackberries. This splendid book works on several levels. Johnson's adaption of a paragraph taken from Thoreau's Walden (set down in an author's note) illuminates the contrast between materialistic and naturalistic views of life without ranting or preaching. His illustrations are breathtakingly rich and filled with lovingly rendered details. The angular, art-deco-influenced spreads are beautifully colored, thoughtfully designed, funny, and interesting, demonstrating Johnson's virtuosic control of his craft. Young children will like the story itself; older ones may be inspired to talk about the period in American history and the still relevant issues Thoreau raised. (Reviewed April 15, 2000)