Henry the Dog with No Tail

Henry

wanted

one thing

in life.

He wanted

a tail.

All the other dogs

he knew had tails.

Grady, a black Labrador,

had a great big black tail.

Pip, a pug, could do

tricks with her tail.

Larry had a big

puffy ball tail....

WHAT WAS

HENRY TO DO?

Kirkus Reviews

All Henry the dog wants is a tail-like Grady, who has a tail "like a baseball bat," or Pip, who can tie her tail into a bow, or Larry, whose tail sticks straight up. The archly whimsical text takes Henry, a brown-and-white Australian shepherd, first to a tailor, who buttons a long black tail to his hindquarters, then to a wagonmaker, who can't make Henry's new tail wag but who can sell him a wagon, then to Battery Park in New York City, where Henry picks up a battery for his tail-with disastrous results. Feiffer, illustrating his daughter's text, provides liquid ink-and-watercolor cartoons, Henry's mood evident in every line, perspective emphasizing his unhappy slink. This tale of a tail is exceedingly slight, however, its punny jokes the sort that adults think kids would like but that aren't quite on the mark. Henry's decision in the end to be happy with his tailless self will surprise no one, though there is some satisfaction in the snooty Larry's acknowledgement that Henry's "not so bad without a tail." A handsome enough effort, but nothing special. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kate Feiffer is the author of three picture books for children, Double Pink, illustrated by Bruce Ingman, which the New York Times praised for its "economy of style and understated wit," and the recently published Henry the Dog with No Tail, illustrated by Jules Feiffer.

Ms. Feiffer is also a filmmaker and a mother. She lives with her family on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, where she is at work on her next book for children. Visit her at katefeiffer.com.

Jules Feiffer is a Pulitzer Prize recipient and the illustrator of many books for children, including Henry the Dog with No Tail by Kate Feiffer and The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster. He lives with his family in New York City and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.