MMGM: The Magic of a Drawn World: From Harold to Henry

 

Today I’m opening the door to a fresh voice. A true kindred spirit and fan of cozy stories, Lizzy B is an up-and-coming authoress, the daughter of a dear friend, a recent homeschool graduate, and one of my fabulous beta readers. She is currently writing The Conspirator’s Crown, a whimsical retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in space. (Can you imagine a more delightful combination?) On Lizzy and Crown, she features book reviews of her favorite books, so I invited her and her cat, Faith, to join me on the front porch to share her latest read.

If you love imaginative stories like Harold and the Purple Crayon, but for an older audience, Henry and the Chalk Dragon by Jennifer Trafton and illustrated by Benjamin Schipper sounds fantastic. The premise of this book reminds me of one of my favorite Anne quotes:

“It's delightful when your imaginations come true, isn't it?”

--L.M. Montgomery 

 Synopsis

In the town of Squashbuckle, just about anything can happen, and when Henry Penwhistle draws a mighty Chalk Dragon on his door, the dragon does what Henry least expects--it runs away. Now Henry's art is out in the world for everyone to see, and it's causing trouble for him and his schoolmates Oscar and Jade. If they don't stop it, the entire town could be doomed! To vanquish the threat of a rampaging Chalk Dragon, Sir Henry Penwhistle, Knight of La Muncha Elementary School, is going to have to do more than just catch his art--he's going to have to let his imagination run wild. And THAT takes bravery. (from Amazon)

Reading Guide: This book would appeal to 6-12-year-olds as a read-aloud and independent readers at the 4th-grade reading level and above. 

Lizzy B.'s Thoughts

Summary: Henry keeps his Art tucked safely away...until a chalk dragon breaks free and takes the other drawings with it!

Notes: Imagine "Harold's Purple Crayon" but a chapter book. And with chalk. Mostly. This book explores what happens when your Art breaks loose, the good, the bad, and the unusual. When your imagination is too big to stay in one place, you have to be careful that it doesn't carry you away. Scattered throughout this book are also many references to other famous - and not so famous - books.  After reading this, I made a list of all the books I wanted to read, all of which were mentioned in this book's pages.

Violence: None...unless you count an indoor flood.
Romance: None
Scary themes: Not really...unless you count a green dragon, a robotic-ish Abe Lincon, or a very slimy slug.

Faith the Cat's thoughts 

Faith the Cat sporting her favorite hat

There are no cats. There is an excessive amount of water and vegetables. However, it is a very nice size for me to rest my head on. I give it a two out of five. 🧶🧶

 

 Your Turn: 

Which stories have been traveling with your family lately? Do you remember the first time you read Harold and the Purple Crayon? Do you have a favorite story that makes you feel like anything is possible with just a bit of imagination?

I’d love to hear about the stories that are lighting up your living room these days.

Check out other fabulous middle grades at Always in the Middle! 

 

  

If you love Anne and tender, heart-filled stories, you’re always welcome here. Never miss out on future posts by following this blog.

If you enjoyed Lizzy’s thoughts, you can find more of her writing over on Lizzy and Crown, where she shares reviews and glimpses of her world-building research. You’re also welcome to join her newsletter if you’d like to follow along as her series takes shape.

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It is no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Photo credits: Photo of Faith by Lizzy B., Front porch from Canva