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Overview
There's something about Hensley's! No matter what you need, that general store is sure to have it. It's almost magical the way the manager, Old John, seems to know what the townsfolk need before they do! But then a new family moves to town. The youngest child, Molly, has asthma—but her mother doesn't have money to treat her, or for anything else. But leave it to Old John to find a way to use Hensley's to give the family exactly what it needs, even if it can't be boxed or bagged.
A true—and truly moving—story about an unforgettable general store and about the extraordinary power one person's acts of kindness can have on another.
Synopsis
There's something about Hensley's! No matter what you need, that general store is sure to have it. It's almost magical the way the manager, Old John, seems to know what the townsfolk need before they do! But then a new family moves to town. The youngest child, Molly, has asthma--but her mother doesn't have money to treat her, or for anything else. But leave it to Old John to find a way to use Hensley's to give the family exactly what it needs, even if it can't be boxed or bagged.
A true--and truly moving--story about an unforgettable general store and about the extraordinary power one person's acts of kindness can have on another.
About the Author: Patricia Polacco lives in Union City, Michigan.
Children's Literature
At Hensley's general store, "no matter what a body may need, you're sure to find it there." Kindly owner John Soncrant can come up with anything, from a missing place setting of Garden Rose dishware, to a large-size left track shoe, to an exact replacement for an unusual lamp. "It's the very thing!" all his amazed and grateful customers exclaim. When asthmatic Molly and kitten-loving Kate move to town with their penniless single mother, Old John outdoes himself by procuring for them, through the "magic" of his kindliness and creativity, medical care for Molly, a business opportunity for her mom, and even a rescued kitty for Kate. Polacco fully makes us believe that there is "something about Hensley's," and each new "miracle" only adds to this heartwarming tribute to the bygone institution of the neighborhood general store. The jacket flap, explaining that Hensley's is a real-life store with John Soncrant its real-life proprietor, will make readers envious that they don't live near Polacco in Union City, Michigan—but also grateful that this kind of heartfelt caring still exists somewhere in our world today.