Meet Henry!

by Chris Hubbard, Education Director

Imagine playful, lovable bears hopping from rock to rock, cleaning chicken coops, building cabins, or planting beans. Author and illustrator D. B. Johnson draws upon short passages from Henry David Thoreau’s writings for inspiration in his charming “Henry” series, with bears front and center, giving children an accessible introduction to Thoreau’s work. Johnson’s angular, earth-toned illustrations echo the Cubist art movement and M.C. Escher’s works, with streets, staircases, and fences skewing the rules of perspective as readers get a glimpse of what life was like in Concord, Massachusetts in the mid-1800’s. “15 cents. 18 miles to Fitchburg.”

Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, Johnson’s first Henry book and winner of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, is based on a brief paragraph in Walden, and explores the idea of living simply. Thoreau writes, “Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. They are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which it was already but too easy to arrive at; as railroads lead to Boston or New York.” Henry and his friend decide to go to Fitchburg to see the country. The challenge is to see who will get to Fitchburg first. Henry decides to walk and enjoy all that the day has to offer, while his friend opts to work until he has the money to purchase a train ticket.

“It’s bigger than it looks,” said Henry. Thoreau’s iconic cabin at Walden Pond comes to life in Henry Builds a Cabin, as Henry, with the help and advice from his friends, sets to building his cabin by Walden Pond. While everyone insists the cabin is lacking, Henry proves them wrong time and time again, as he shares the great outdoors where he plans to spend his time. The progression of the seasons is laid out, as Henry sets his plan in motion. Wildlife native to Massachusetts can be found scampering through the pages, and children will delight in searching for the various creatures that make their appearances.

Through their rollicking antics, Johnson’s bears give us a glimpse of life of in a simpler by-gone era with messages that resonate through the ages, as he makes Thoreau’s words come alive in a manner accessible for all.

Walk on a stone wall.

Climb a tree.

Make a raft and try paddling it.

Cross a swamp.

Find a bird’s nest (and leave it where you find it!)

Find a honey tree. Jump into a pond.

Eat berries from a berry patch. Take a shortcut.

“A tree is nice to plant. You dig the biggest hole you can and put the little tree in. Then you pour in lots of water and then the dirt. You hang the shovel back in the garage. Everyday for years and YEARS you watch the little tree grow. You say to people, “I planted that tree.” They wish they had one so they go home and plant a tree too.”

—from “A Tree is Nice”, by Janice May Undry. 1956

The Next Great Migration: The Beauty and Terror of Life on the Move

by Sonia Shah, 2020

by Stephanie Breed, Visitor Center

While listening to NPR on the drive home, there was a promo for an upcoming author interview concerning migration. The author had studied movement patterns of plants, animals and humans. Her finding showed a dynamic evolution. The interview can be found online at NPR’s Fresh Air broadcast- Rethinking the Migration of All Living Things. Sonia Shah is a journalist whose focus is on science, politics and human rights. Her 2026 book, Pandemic: Tracking Contagions, from Cholera to Ebola and Beyond is discussed at the beginning of the interview.

I was beyond happy to venture into the newly reopened Northshire Bookstore to buy this book! At over 300 pages it seemed a bit daunting at first. However, she writes for the layperson and clearly outlines the history of migration theory. She discusses at length Carl Linnaeus who is best known for his plant classification based on characteristics and assumed place of origin. He is lesser known for his grim view on the taxonomy of humans.

Plants, animals and humans were thought to remain stationary. Bird migration wasn’t considered in the 1800’s. It was thought birds went into caves, underground or into the water during the winter. Eventual observations and tracking of floral and fauna changed how people saw their world and challenged religious beliefs that all living things were meant to remain where they were created.

I haven’t yet finished this book, I am absorbing it slowly. It is a fascinating study on migration patterns, cultural interactions and biodiversity. Flora, fauna and humans interact constantly and can alter the environment on a daily basis. Our job is to understand this interconnectedness, appreciate change and to realize when certain changes can pose a negative outcome.