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Henry the Dog with No Tail (Paula Wiseman Books) | 
 enlarge | Author: Kate Feiffer
Creator: Jules Feiffer
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Category: Book
List Price: $16.99
Buy New: $5.54
You Save: $11.45 (67%)
New (34) Used (16) Collectible (1) from $1.83
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 449237
Media: Hardcover
Reading Level: Ages 4-8
Pages: 32
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 11.7 x 10.2 x 0.5
ISBN: 1416916148
EAN: 9781416916147
ASIN: 1416916148
Publication Date: October 23, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Henrywanted one thing in life. He wanted a tail. All the other dogs he knew had tails. Grady, a black Labrador, had a great big black tail. Pip, a pug, could do tricks with her tail. Larry had a big puffy ball tail.... WHAT WAS HENRY TO DO?
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| Customer Reviews:
 Be Your Own Dog! February 25, 2008
M. Allen Greenbaum (California)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is just a tail-riffic book filled with zany puns (much better than my own). Kate Feiffer's TALE of the Australian sheep dog (they typically do not have tails) is not only witty and wise, but her story-telling is superb. The lessons here about finding your identity, your true friends, and self-acceptance are important ones, but they never take precedence over the first requirement of telling a good story.
Feiffer sounds an authentic note in showing that not all of Henry's "friends" are nice, either pre- or post-tail. This is a departure from some books' all-support-all-the-time stance, and the realism makes it a more helpful for any toddler or early grade schooler. However, when Henry ultimately decides he'll just go without a tail, all the dogs agree that's fine: One mildly dissenting spoil-sport might have enhanced book discussion. Still, the young target audience will appreciate the dog's unifrom acceptance.
Kate Feiffer is talented enough to command her pick of illustrators, but she didn't have to look any further than her own backyard,; or rather, her dad's: Award-winning illustrator-author-etc. Jules Feiffer. His pictures have the classic Feiffer style, casual line and color drawings that evoke movement and character, and a mixture of realism and fantasy befitting one of our best humorists and satirists. Feiffer suggests personality in his ore subtle drawings, but also depicts the wild shenanigans caused by Henry's fake tails. One of them, a long ropey tail made by a TAILOR (of course!), enables Henry to do all kinds of fancy tricks, earning the admiration of most of the dogs. Alas, he trips over the buttoned-on tail, can't even wag it, and is found out.
Discouraged and rejected (by some), Henry leaves his home and neighborhood. Eventually he meet a wagon-maker, of whom Henry asked (obviously) if he can make a WAGging tail! He can't, but Henry fins another solution in New York's Battery Park, which, of course, is littered with bartteries! (While not all 3 year-olds will understand what a battery is, let alone the location of Battery Park, or the explicit pun), it's a very funny conceit that many kids--and their adult readers--will enjoy.) Henry ties this onto his tail, and, voila, not only does his tail wag, but it bounces will along the ground, and propels him skyward like a helicopter!
Henry, despite his newfound talents and tricks, also yearns for a normal, non-flying, authentic dog experience, even if his battery-powered special effects hadn't been discovered by wise-dog Larry. He decided that he'll just be himself, and everyone agrees that's the best tail of all. A beautifully told and illustrated book, I'll put this intelligent, well-told story in my list of top 20 books I've read this year.
Kids and Dog Lovers of All Ages Will Enjoy Henry's Adventures January 12, 2008
Anita Weiner
As the guardian of an Australian Shepherd who happens to be named Henry, I snapped this book right up without even looking to see what it was about. Once I read it I knew all of the children in my life would love it, especially since they're all dog-lovers and have a "cousin" Aussie named Henry.
First of all, Jules Feiffer's illustrations are wonderful as always. He captures the characters' personalities just perfectly. The story is wonderful as well. Kate Feiffer uses lots of fun word-play that parents will love and kids will get a giggle out of it too. It is lighthearted but has a good message about acceptance at its core.
If there is a 4 to 6 year old in your life, he or she will love the wit and whimsy found in "Henry, the Dog with No Tail."
Also an absolute MUST for Australian Shepherd lovers.
A terrific "tail tale" December 23, 2007
Massachusetts Mom (Boston, MA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Our eldest daughter received "Henry, the Dog with No Tail" as a birthday gift, and it immediately leapt to the top of the stack of bedtime favorites. Our children love Henry and his posse's fanciful antics and the endearingly realistic illustrations. The book has sparked lots of conversation among our kids about the side life our dog might be leading when she is out-and-about with her own doggie friends. Most of all, our kids love that Henry's friends want him to be happy and that, in the end, Henry learns to be happy just as he is.
Whether or not you're a dog lover, you'll love this tail's tale.
 Won't make sense to over 3 yr old December 5, 2007
Gwen S. (IL United States)
0 out of 7 found this review helpful
This book does not make sense to my 3 yr old grandson. The dog goes to Battery Park, which is a lot strewn with batteries, and ties a battery on his manufactured tail. This makes the tail spin around....
I am in favor of silliness but this just simply doesn't make sense.
Australian Shepherd lovers! Tailless dogs rule! October 26, 2007
Gail Beebe (Denver, Colorado USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
It is Perfect! All dog loving children and adults will enjoy this delightfully illustrated story book. Henry is perfect just the way he is. Thank you for the perfect reading experience for my granddaughter, our Aussie and I.
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