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The character for whom disaster always looms, no matter what they try to do, appears in all manner of literature, theater, and movies. Robert Quackenbush, a well-known author for first readers, has produced a hilarious four-part series about Henry the Duck, with the minor character of Henry’s friend Clara, also a Duck. And when I say “hilarious,” I really mean hilarious! They are great for reading aloud to little ones but also are good for early readers to try to read for themselves.
In Henry’s Awful Mistake, trying to get rid of an insect intruder in Henry’s kitchen while he prepares a special meal for Clara is taken to ludicrous extremes with a calm (but exhausted) final ending. Henry Babysits tells of how a small babysitting favor for a friend quickly balloons into near-disaster for Henry amidst lots of screaming babies. In Henry’s Important Date, Henry rushes across town to get to Clara’s birthday party on time. Of course, as in Murphy’s Law, everything that can go wrong – does go wrong. In fact, this whole series is a good introduction to a child about Murphy’s infamous Law! Finally, Henry Goes West tells of how Henry goes to a dude ranch in the western United States, with heat, horses, and prickly cactus – what could possibly go wrong? These four books are recommended for any family and any child.