Henry's Amazing Machine

by Dayle Ann Dodds, Kyrsten Brooker (Illustrator)

Inventors, rejoice!

From the time Henry is a baby he loves to put things together -- wheels with rods, switches with levers, cranks with gears. By the age of six, he's built an Amazing Machine that fills his entire room. But Henry doesn't mind. He keeps on building. By the time he's ten, the machine has taken over the entire house --- and the yard. His parents are proud of Henry, but they're getting a little worried. They can't help What does it do?

Rollicking text and ingenious collage illustrations full of visual humor add to the fun in this clever picture book sure to inspire and delight every young inventor and builder.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 16, 2004

About the author

Dayle Ann Dodds is the author of numerous picture books for children, including THE SHAPE OF THINGS, TEACHER'S PETS, THE GREAT DIVIDE: A MATHEMATICAL MARATHON, and MINNIE'S DINER: A MULTIPLYING MENU. A former elementary school teacher, she lives in Carmel Valley, California.

Reviews

[Shana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think kids will like this. For the adults, it's a good reminder to let them do their thing. The art of creating is an art itself!

[Rose Rosetree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why aren't there more books like this one? Saluting ingenuity, curiosity, hard work, and leadership. This is more than a story about an inventor, as if such a rare story wouldn't be enough to make this book remarkable.

Henry is a born inventor. We follow his inspiring journey through life.

As a prodigy inventor, Henry's passion to create might not have been easy for his parents to live with. Witness what Henry's mother said at one point:

Whipping things, whapping things,
Clapping, snapping, slapping things,
Tracking things, hacking things,
Smacking, cracking, whacking things!"

You sure know how to build things,
BUT HENRY, WHAT DOES IT DO?

Eventually, there's a happy ending. A wonderful ending.

FIVE STARS for a book that tells a noble story, a book that can encourage children to make something of their lives, and be of service to humanity.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this book.

Building just to build is fine, but you have to have SOME constraints on the system. Henry's parents gave him none. The machine took up their whole house and then their whole yard.

So, it models building and fun, but no problem solving, no iteration, no function.

Henry's amazing machine is really more about art than about engineering or inventing.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry builds, and builds, and builds. But WHAT is he even building? You'll find out at the end. I liked this book because at first I feel like it focused on just building. no fancy ideas, or blueprints, just building for fun!

[Launna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story had my kids indignant about his parents having to sleep outside so Henry could build.

[Goshen PL Childrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read at Pringle Park book giveaway. Fun rhyming and intricate mechanical illustrations.

[Danielle Harriger · Rating 5 out of 5]

PB 45: I loved this book because Dodds was able to convey the curiosity and imagination of a child through the fun plot line and the eclectic illustrations. The illustrator’s use of sketched cartoons mixed with realistic images of clocks drew me into the tale and set the tone for the whimsy and magic that ensued while Henry built his machine. I think images are very important for children, and I believe children should be exposed to different art forms in order to spark their imagination and own creativity. I loved the rhyming that the story included because it not only made for a fun read aloud to children, but it also emphasized different sounds of words that children could practice. I thought the ending was perfect, as Henry was able to use his machine to attract people to a carnival that was going to shut down. Thus, I think children are presented with the idea that they can use their talents for a greater purpose. From this reading experience, I will take away the notion that it is important to look for children’s books that provide inspirational ideas about cultivating one’s talents and hobbies.

[The Brothers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry loves to tinker and build things. So much so that his machine overtakes the entire house and the family has to live outside in a tent, until he builds it more and they end up in a tree. Eventually he donates it to a local circus, for it had the same effect as the circus.

Interesting illustrations.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Henry spends his entire life building "An Incredible, Amzaing machine." It doesn't seem to do anything, until one day Henry realizes it can do something great.

Fantastic illustrations -- so much to look at.

[Erica Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book about a young inventor.

[Lindsay · Rating 1 out of 5]

Henry seemed very inconsiderate of those around him in his drive to keep building. I also found the illustrations to be too busy.