Gene Zion’s No Roses For Harry, illustrated by Maragaret Bloy Graham, features Harry, -the white dog with black spots-, and the present he receives from Grandma.
Harry is not too pleased with it.
The gift is a sweater, moreover, it is not just any sweater.
Harry’s gift is an affectionately hand-knitted sweater with great big roses all over it.
Harry hates it. He is just not a roses sort of fellow!
Harry is a white fellow with black spots.
Harry did try his new sweater on, and, it certainly did feel all snuggly and comfy. Nevertheless, he did not like those roses.
Harry believed it was the silliest sweater he had ever seen.
Harry was very mortified; it seemed every single person giggled and snickered when he wore it. Therefore, Harry tried losing it... over and over. And, no matter how hard he tried, someone always managed to locate the sweater and bring it back.
At last, a mother bird dives in and with a yank of her beak the sweater commences to vanish. At last, Harry is again a contented little pup. Black and white is the look he favors.
In a little while, Harry realizes Grandma is coming for a visit. Now he does not know what to do. Harry doesn't want Grandma to have wounded feelings, she WILL want to see him wearing his sweater, on the other hand he really cannot get the sweater back either.
His sweater is gone. So, what to do? Harry's family hunts everywhere for the sweater, however, they can't locate it. Later, after Grandma arrives, she and Harry go for a walk in the park, and, up in a tree they see a bird with a nice new nest.
It is a nest that looks just like Harry's sweater.
When Grandma returns to her home she knits another sweater for Harry. This time it is white with black spots!
My resident critics; many classes of first graders during my any years in the classroom, settle in for listening; it is time for our daily 'reading on the rug' before we go home for the day. Children always hurried a little faster when the book I was holding was one of Gene Zion's, Harry books. I have found children adore Harry and his antics.
No Roses for Harry! is a child pleasing account. Artworks done in quiet tones and old-fashioned illustrations set the tone for the work. Harry first appeared way back, during the 1950s. Throughout my time in the classroom I continued using the copies that I first began using some thirty-five plus years ago.
My first graders then loved the stories, today, even though worn and well used; the books continue to be enjoyed, are handled gently and listened to attentively by each new group of six-year-olds. Paperback copies are taken home to be appreciated with family and friends.
The popular central character of Harry the Dirty Dog renown does his best to rid himself of Grandmother's well-meant gift. And, when he finally succeeds; he is left to contemplate the consequences of his behavior.
He does love Grandma and doesn't want to hurt her feelings.
The work offers dandy discussion starters for little learners as we deliberate re how to accept a gift we really would rather not have; and how we don't want to hurt the feelings of someone when they are trying to do something nice for us, even if what they come up with is really just plain horrible.
I have often heard that children can be so 'cruel'. I have found; in general, little people are just starting to grow feelings of compassion for others, however, in general, few children I have known are simply trying to be unkind or nasty to one another.
It is, I believe, inexperience that most often causes children to blurt out the first thing that pops into their minds. Books such as No Roses for Harry! provide some of the grist to be used for furthering children's sympathetic growth.
I like that each of the Harry books is accomplished by means of child friendly vocabulary; offers a problem to resolve as Harry becomes involved in a serious situation, and offers twists of plot to preserve children's interest.
Gene Zion, in tandem with two-time Caldecott Honor winner Margaret Bloy Graham successfully fashioned several long-time children’s favorite stories about Harry, including: Harry by the Sea, Harry the Dirty Dog, and No Roses for Harry.
The graphics compliment the chronicles nicely and add to the old-fashioned feel of the work. First published in 1958 the pictures portrayed in No Roses for Harry! are those of a small town such as the ones in which I taught.
Pictures are unaffected, I like that children are not overwhelmed with too intense color or complicated, too detailed imageries. The pictures are completed using quiet greens and muted oranges, as well as black and white.
Illustrator Bloy adds complimentary little touches such as bricks on the houses, and wallpaper on the walls. My resident critics search for small details, earrings and other features in the images as they listen.
Sentiments are clearly represented on the faces of characters. My resident critics voice approval of the illustrations.
No Roses for Harry! received many thumbs up during my years of reading to resident critics. Happy to recommend No Roses for Harry! as a dandy choice for the pleasure reading list of children, as an addition to the home, school, classroom and public library collection, and as birthday and other noted days for a beloved child.
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Reviewed by: MOLLY REVIEWS BOOKS molly martin
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http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead
35+ years classroom teacher
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Amazon about the Author
Gene Zion and two-time Caldecott Honor winner Margaret Bloy Graham have collaborated on several favorite stories about Harry: Harry by the Sea, Harry the Dirty Dog, and No Roses for Harry.
