Henry Hodges Needs a Friend by Andy Andrews and illustrated by Colleen Madden

Let me say first and foremost: I loved, loved, loved this book.  It's a children's book about a little boy who lived at the end of a "long dead end street" and had no friends to play with.  His parents promised him a pet that was going to be one of a kind just like him.  He commenced to dreaming about the kind of pet that would be unlike any other.  In the end, he finds a puppy who looks just as lonely as he feels.  It's a fun story written in rhyme that reminds me just a little of Dr. Seuss.  I read the story to my 3.5 week old daughter, but I don't think she got too much out of it, though I'm hoping to fuel her obsession with books as young as possible!! :) :)  I would say this book would be for toddlers and up to maybe 1st or 2nd grade?  I'm not real good with when a story like this would no longer be interesting.

The message of the book was summed up in the last line, "just like your friend needs you." I would take the message to be that everyone needs a friend.  The illustrations were amazing.  Henry dreamed of funny animals like skating hippos and short necked giraffes and Colleen did a really good job of illustrating them in a kid-friendly manner.  I loved the pictures, they went perfectly with the story line for each page.  I wouldn't say there was a strong spiritual message in the book, a few lines toward the end, but it was a good, solid book that I would definitely recommend to others.

This book was given to me by Book Look Bloggers for the purpose of reading and writing a review. All opinions expressed are my own.