Is there anyone better than Henrietta? by Martine Murray
Is there anyone better than Henrietta? is one full coloured book comprised of four Henrietta stories. The delightful and enchanting Henrietta P. Hoppenbeek is back and she is just full of joy. This is a book that asks to be put straight into the hands of early years teachers for their class read alouds and parents for warm and funny bedtime stories.
Children will laugh a lot with Henrietta and also feel with her as she navigates the common concerns of being five years old like starting school, being a good sister for a new baby brother, being a friend and being actively involved in the real world and the world of the imagination. They will love the play of language. Their imaginations will be fired by Henrietta's hilarious, adventurous approach to life.
Martine Murray is the author and illustrator of acclaimed books. Henrietta and the perfect night which is included in this collection was a CBCA Honour book in 2018. Henrietta, there's no one better (also included in this collection) has been shortlisted for several awards. It comes as no surprise that this book was shortlisted, best book for language development, Speech Pathology Australia Book of the Year Awards, 2005. Murray's use of language is playful and exciting. These books are made for reading out loud, for playing with words and for having fun. Classes of children will be delighted with the vocabulary - Sheezamageeza! Oh Lordy! Lordy! Somewhat reminiscent of a combination of Pippi Longstocking and Milly Molly Mandy, Henrietta is really her own self. We see the world through her eyes, through her own first person voice.
These Henrietta stories are an invitation for imagination and play. Adults and children will find inspiration for a lot of sheer fun if they borrow ideas from Henrietta. How about wearing a pair of pants on top of your head with your pigtails coming out through the legholes? What about making some of that favourite, fabulous Chocolate Ripple cake? If teachers combine activities and silliness with the reading of these stories, there will be constant requests for more Henrietta. The stories virtually read themselves as the playful text design highlights expressive speech in bold, in different fonts, in different colours and sometimes by spiralling around on the page.
The whimsical, happy, pencil and ink drawings with gouache colour swirl across the pages accompanied by an equally attractive text design. Comprehensive teacher resources are available on the Allen and Unwin site.
Do introduce the children in your life to Henrietta Hoppenbeek.
Highly recommended.
Themes: Starting school, Family, Friends, Imaginative adventure.
Wendy Jeffrey
