Everything Goes: Henry in a Jam (My First I Can Read Series)

by Brian Biggs, Brian Biggs (Illustrator), Simon Abbott (Illustrator)

Overview

Beep, beep! Honk, honk! Henry is stuck in traffic. But luckily, the emergency vehicles are on their way to help out—and Henry is ready for the action!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061958182
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/21/2012
Series:	My First I Can Read Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	651,662
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Everything Goes is a series of books written and illustrated by Brian Biggs. The first books in the series, Everything Goes: On Land and Everything Goes: In the Air, are a celebration of cars, trucks, motorcycles, planes, and other things that go!

Everything Goes is a series of books written and illustrated by Brian Biggs. The first books in the series, Everything Goes: On Land and Everything Goes: In the Air, are a celebration of cars, trucks, motorcycles, planes, and other things that go!

Editorial Reviews

PreS-K—Henry is tucked into the backseat, with Mom and Dad up front. If readers look closely, they can see that he is holding a wrapped package. Traffic suddenly stops; a fallen tree is blocking the road. This becomes a big adventure for the family as they get out of the car and watch a fire truck, an ambulance (no one is hurt), and, finally, a crane. The tree is moved, and Henry makes it to a birthday party. While Biggs's "Everything Goes" series is fun, this "based on" title with the text by a different author and illustrations "in the style of" almost shouts: "copy this idea and make some more books (and money) just by piggybacking on a successful idea." The book is part of a new level in the "I Can Read" series and is meant for emergent readers. Unfortunately, the writing is reminiscent of the texts in the "Dick and Jane" books; it is flat and lacks the real sense of excitement that should accompany a fallen tree and lots of traffic. The simple, bright pictures show the action and would appeal to preschoolers, but they are not strong enough to make this title worth purchasing.—Susan Lissim, Dwight School, New York City

School Library Journal

A genial elementary reader that taps into the electricity generated by Brian Biggs' Everything Goes: On Land (2011). This book has been designed to share with very beginning readers, as Bourne's text amply illustrates in its simple repetitions: " ‘Woof, woof, woof.'…The dog wags his tail. The dog does not want to stop. The dog wants to see." Then there is the truck honking--"Honk, honk, honk!"--at the tree that has fallen across the road, causing the traffic jam that is the story's pivot. Though the text can feel overly purpose-driven, and the words more to be absorbed than befriended, such is not the case with Abbott's artwork--"in the style of Brian Biggs,"according to the title page--which is amiability itself. The line work is crayon bold, and the color so saturated it is thick as fudge. But there is something else lurking in the illustrations, something Claymation-tangible, which may arouse the urge to bring them home and introduce them to mother. If one of the objects of an early-early reader is to keep the reader focused, this artwork immeasurably helps. Traffic jams, it turns out, can be good fun, and children might even learn a word or two. (Early reader. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews