Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Henry and the Clubhouse Audio
Fiction
For ages 6 to 9
Unabridged audiobook (CD)
Performed/read by: Neil Patrick Harris
Harper Children’s Audio, 2006 ISBN: 978-0060898366
Henry Huggins has now got a paper route and it is a responsibility that he takes very seriously. He is the youngest boy to be given the job in his area and he is determined to make his father proud of him. He soon discovers that this is not as easy as one would think. For one thing he has to give up precious play time so that he can get the work done. In addition, getting his customers to pay him on time is often fraught with difficulties. Then there is the necessity for Henry to sign on new customers, a chore which makes him feel very uncomfortable. All of this is made even more complicated because young Ramona Quimby keeps popping up at unfortunate moments.
In addition to managing his paper route Henry and his two best friends want to build a clubhouse. They are soon busy building a frame, putting up shingles and painting their solidly built home away from home. Murph, who is extremely brainy, insists that the clubhouse has to be off limits to all girls. Needless to say Ramona Quimby is not willing to let a “NO GIRLS ALLOWED” sign keep her out. Ramona is not the kind of girl to let anything get in her way, as Henry soon discovers.
Anyone who has had to manage a paper route and a pesky little neighbor will love this simple, engaging, and highly entertaining story. Henry Huggins is wonderfully real and easy to relate to as he gets himself into, and out of, all kinds of funny scrapes.
Neil Patrick Harris has no difficulty portraying the characters of Henry, his family and friends, and that ever present pest, Ramona. With obvious enjoyment he brings the story to life capturing the many high, and low, spots in Henry’s life.
