UNHURRY HARRY

by Eve Merriam ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 2, 1978

Any story with a title like Tag-along Tommy or Absent-Minded Annie has almost got to be one-dimensional, and it's no surprise that this is all about how Harry, with his lackadaisical, free-floating interest in the shapes and colors and suggestive potential of every object he encounters, dawdles through the day's routine while kids, teacher, parents, and sister urge him to ""Hurry, Harry."" Merriam's examples, of course, have lots of recognition value, and a bit more color than most such: at lunch, Harry presses on his sandwich to smooth the lumpy filling and ""jelly and peanut butter began to ooze over the edge. Volcano erupting. Watch out everybody!"" She also gives a nice rendition of Harry's father rushing through a bedtime story ("". . . princess castle singing bird. . .""), and she knows better than to impose some artificial resolution. Owens, who colors the objects of Harry's attention and imagination and leaves the real world black and white, has a more conventional imagination herself; but at least she makes him look suitably intent.

Pub Date: Oct. 2, 1978

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Four Winds

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1978

Categories: CHILDREN'S