cover image Henry! You're Late Again!

Henry! You're Late Again!

Mary Evanson Bleckwehl, illus. by Brian Barber. Beaver's Pond Press (www.bea-verspondpress.com), $16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-59298-357-5

It's "just another crazy morning" at Henry's house%E2%80%94his father overslept, his mother forgot to set her alarm, his sister can't find the socks that match her underwear, and his brother needs a diaper change. Knowing that he'll be late for school again, Henry fears the wrath of Miss Timberlane, the school secretary. The boy's narrative alternates between descriptions of his chaotic household and musings on the secretary's life (Does she ever forget to set her alarm? Does she have a baby?). Henry's fretting is for naught: when he arrives at school, a cheerful Miss Timberlane tells him that there's no school for students (it's a teacher workday), that he can make the morning announcements the next day, and that she'll give him a wakeup call each morning. While it's unclear whether Miss Timberlane has had a sudden change of attitude or if Henry's fears are unwarranted, Barber's jaunty illustrations add liveliness. His loose yet polished cartooning offers many visual gags, including portraits of a ferocious wolf hanging over the secretary's desk and bed, and Henry's dog's exaggerated facial expressions. Ages 3%E2%80%936.