LitPick Review
Henri, the French Bulldog, loves his home in bustling New York City. He lives in an apartment, has a dog walker, and steers clear of the pond in Central Park. When his mom decides to move to California, Henri is not so sure he’ll adjust to their new home. But, when he arrives, Henri is pleasantly surprised by the warm breeze and palm trees, and even meets new friends on his first day of doggie daycare. The next day, though, his new friends hear his unique snorting sound. Henri, now known as Pig Dog, experiences bullying for the first time. With sadness and shame, Henri keeps his hurt feelings inside, but his mom’s best instincts tell her something is wrong. After a walk and a talk, Henri learns that bullying is never okay, and he needs to teach the other pups to stand up for what is right. Henri rallies against bullying and is pleased to see so many dogs supporting his cause. Now, instead of sadness and shame, Henri realizes he, too, is special, and every individual deserves to be celebrated.
Opinion:
Samantha Childs uses lyrical, rhyming text to tell a story inspired by her own dog, Henri Le Frenchie, paired beautifully with Hannah Farr’s incredibly detailed illustrations. Illustrations are found from cover to cover, including the end pages. Small details, like bold and colorful words, appear on text pages, enhancing the white space throughout the book while contributing to the text. This picture book is a perfect read for children young and old. Henri and the Magnificent Snort encapsulates the themes of bullying, uniqueness, friendship, and courage. Not only does Childs tell a story but very distinctly shares a lesson on the importance of self-love. A definite “must-have” for classroom and home libraries, Henri will make readers smile from beginning to end and encourage much needed discussions about individuality and standing up for what is right.
