Andrew Henry's Meadow

My mom read this book to me when I was just a wee lad. I bought this one for my son to read to my grandson. Fantastic book with fantastic illustrations!

It's about time that publisher's start realizing that people are hungry for the excellent, classic picture books. So many mediocre titles are shoved into the market every day that there seems to be a sense that anything more than five years old is irrelevant. Now, I'm sure that the book is being reissued because there's going to be a movie of it, but it's still nice to see. So what if the new title font is lame, the book retains the same sense of magic and innovation and adventure that captured adults and children for generations. Brief synopsis:Andrew Henry is a middle child trying to find his place in his family. He is a brilliant thinker and engineer and comes up with all kinds of crazy contraptions that his family doesn't seem to appreciate. So he goes and builds his own home and is followed by other children for whom he designs exciting and innovative homes also. The town worries when all the children haven't returned for a few days and a giant manhunt ensues. The kids get found, both children and parents are happy to reunite. Andrew Henry returns home and is given basement space to continue his excellent creations. You can read a large number of glowing reviews from its out of print edition here:  Andrew Henry's Meadow The book is a true delight. It would make an excellent gift for 7-12 year old boys especially... though everything in this book would inspire a child of either sex; it is just so good. I really wish publishers would reissue more Doris Burns titles... she was an excellent author and illustrator. (Incidentally, I think her best work was in the book  We Were Tired of Living in a House ... but when that got republished in 1999, they used really uninspired, Saturday-morning-cartoonish illustrations... AND THEY REMOVED ONE OF THE FOUR CHILDREN from of the original book!!! What a pity. Thankfully, Andrew Henry's Meadow suffered no such crimes... it is a safe and faithful reissue of its original glory.)

My siblings and I loved this book growing up. The fun and funny story about kids who run and builds home in a valley. The pictures in this book are stunning and make you long for a simpler time.

I loved this book when I was young and shared it with my children. I bought this copy to share with my grandchildren. It’s a great story about individuality, invention, and family. The illustrations are phenomenal, even if they are only black & white. Tremendous detail that truly adds to the story. Your children will love it, and you will too!

This is a classic picture book that has been a bedtime favorite in our family for years. If you have never had a copy before, this new Philomel print will not disappoint, and the price is right. You can't go wrong giving "Andrew Henry's Meadow" to new readers or parents of younger kids.But if you have had one of the prior versions (either the original Coward-McCann edition, or the 2005 San Juan reprint), you will find minor disappointments in this latest incarnation. Most importantly, the heart of the book -- Doris Burn's detailed pen-and-ink drawings -- are rendered on a smaller scale than in prior editions, both because the dimensions of this printing are smaller, and because the entire text and layout has been reformatted, with the words being given greater relative prominence (as well as being subjected to pointless, minor revisions from the original). The net result, while subtle, is notable: Some of the intricate detail (so integral to captivating young eyes and imaginations) is lost in the compression. I've done a side-by-side comparison with both prior editions and, while I appreciate Philomel's glossy paper, crisp text, and glossy book jacket, cannot avoid a distinct preference for the older illustrations. Even though they're less flashy, the older versions are more interesting to look at.So, while I don't mean to be overly negative about this new printing -- it's great to have this perpetual favorite readily available for a new generation -- it may be worth seeking out a copy of one of the prior printings, if you can find one for a decent price.

This gorgeous book brought me back to childhood. I ordered it used and managed to get a copy from the 60s which caused me to dream more. Lovely.

I bought this book after it was highly recommended by a podcast guest in a podcast I listen to frequently. It didn't disappoint. Both my children love the book. The illustrations are beautiful, and so is the story.

I give this book often as a baby gift. It was one of my childhood favorites. Imagination, creation, accepting one another’s differences & independence are the theme of this winner.

Wonderful! A new favourite for my son, and one I love to read to him. Beautiful illustrations, great story.