Henry David's House

by Henry David Thoreau, Steven Schnur (Editor), Peter Fiore (Illustrator)

Young readers are introduced to Henry David Thoreau's masterpiece, Walden, through excerpts from the original work.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature, Childrens, American History, Poetry

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Henry David Thoreau (born David Henry Thoreau) was an American author, naturalist, transcendentalist, tax resister, development critic, philosopher, and abolitionist who is best known for Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state.

Thoreau's books, articles, essays, journals, and poetry total over 20 volumes. Among his lasting contributions were his writings on natural history and philosophy, where he anticipated the methods and findings of ecology and environmental history, two sources of modern day environmentalism.

In 1817, Henry David Thoreau was born in Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University in 1837, taught briefly, then turned to writing and lecturing. Becoming a Transcendentalist and good friend of Emerson, Thoreau lived the life of simplicity he advocated in his writings. His two-year experience in a hut in Walden, on land owned by Emerson, resulted in the classic, Walden: Life in the Woods (1854). During his sojourn there, Thoreau refused to pay a poll tax in protest of slavery and the Mexican war, for which he was jailed overnight. His activist convictions were expressed in the groundbreaking On the Duty of Civil Disobedience (1849). In a diary he noted his disapproval of attempts to convert the Algonquins "from their own superstitions to new ones." In a journal he noted dryly that it is appropriate for a church to be the ugliest building in a village, "because it is the one in which human nature stoops to the lowest and is the most disgraced." (Cited by James A. Haught in 2000 Years of Disbelief.) When Parker Pillsbury sought to talk about religion with Thoreau as he was dying from tuberculosis, Thoreau replied: "One world at a time."

Thoreau's philosophy of nonviolent resistance influenced the political thoughts and actions of such later figures as Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas K. Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr. D. 1862.

More: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/tho...

http://thoreau.eserver.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Da...

http://transcendentalism-legacy.tamu....

http://www.biography.com/people/henry...

Reviews

[Lisa Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book is intended for younger readers, and even though it is under forty pages long, it is a lovely introduction to Thoreau. The nicely illustrated book is written in Thoreau's own words. Editor Steven Schnur has chosen Thoreau's words wisely and has woven them into an excellent introduction to this American icon.
The book is inspiring and enlightening. Reading this little gem of a book sent me to my bookshelves looking for a copy of Walden!

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a nice introduction to the great American writer, Thoreau. I wanted to enjoy this book and provide a foundational understanding of this important man and his life, but I found it dull and I could see my kids squirming in boredom while they patiently waited for me to finish reading it.

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully illustrated picture book about how Thoreau built his house in the woods and his first year of living in it. The text is taken from Thoreau's journals. It is a quiet, peaceful book focused on observation and nature. It would not hold the attention of a toddler or preschooler but would be a great gift for an older child interested in nature, or an adult fan of Thoreau.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's picture book with beautiful Andrew-Wyeth-like drawings and excerpts from Walden,/I> cleverly condensing Thoreau's adventure for a young audience.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for a specific purpose. Uses text from Walden alongside illustrations. Definitely sets the mood. Would probably not be appealing to the average reader, but for someone who wanted a brief intro to Walden or classic literature, it would be good. Would also make for a great baby shower gift for a literature enthusiast.

[N_stefanie Akwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry David’s House by Henry David Thoreau and illustrated by Peter Fiore. I enjoyed this book because it took me back to remembering how simplistic Henry David Thoreau was and how it is we that make our lives complicated. The book is written as a journal from month to month. It talks about how he built his log cabin. How he communicated with nature, talking to the birds and other animals and even the plants and flowers. I loved how he built each piece of furniture in the cabin. He talked to several travelers and even once to a runaway slave.

The illustrations are beautifully drawn as a picture of what the journal was speaking of on that particular page. Each page has a flower on it representing either the time of year that page was written about or representing his mood at that time. He ends his story in winter, speaking of the pond just before it freezes. He ends his story saying we can never get enough of nature. Coincidentally, winter is approaching as I write this journal (of a sort), and I, too, must now go outside for a moment and enjoy one of the few days left of autumn.

This inspiring down-to-earth book would compliment a field trip to Botanic Gardens or a nature walk.

[Lisa Muller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this book is intended for younger readers, and even though it is under forty pages long, it is a lovely introduction to Thoreau. The nicely illustrated book is written in Thoreau's own words. Editor Steven Schnur has chosen Thoreau's words wisely and has woven them into an excellent introduction to this American icon.
The book is inspiring and enlightening. Reading this little gem of a book sent me to my bookshelves looking for a copy of Walden!

August, 2025: I just reread this little gem of a book. As I go through my books, deciding what to keep, this one is definitely in the "keeper" stack. I feel as if I have had a visit to Walden Pond after reading it again.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really loved reading Henry David Thoreau in college, so I was intrigued by the concept of turning his actual words into a children's book. But I'm afraid this book doesn't do the job well. Perhaps there would be other passages that would communicate the essence of the experience better? I felt this was too long and wordy for a children's book, and I was dissapointed that it didn't use some of the more recognizable segments from the famous book (i.e., "I went to the woods..."). Beautiful illustrations, though.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no secret that I think Henry David Thoreau is bees knees, and I try to share him as much as possible with my students, but it's hard to find relatable texts for grade school students. This book was spot-on! I read it with 5th graders and they impressed me with their interest in the subject matter.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful introduction to Henry David Thoreau and how he began his 2+ year existence at Walden Pond. Not for preschoolers, this book will give older children a lovely introduction to a quietly influential man. I love the closing quote, "We can never have enough of nature."

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful with my Thoreau pursuit. Great to look at.