Henry and the Clubhouse

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Henry and the Clubhouse
Henry and Clubhouse cover.jpg
First edition
AuthorBeverly Cleary
IllustratorLouis Darling
SeriesHenry Huggins
GenreChildren's Realistic Fiction
PublisherDell/Yearling
Publication date
1962
ISBN 9780380709151
Preceded by Henry and the Paper Route  
Followed by Ribsy  

Henry and the Clubhouse, by Beverly Cleary, is the fifth book in Henry Huggins series. Now that he has the paper route he wanted so badly in the previous book, Henry and the Paper Route , Henry finds that it's harder than he expected. His earnings are going for the clubhouse he and his friends are building. One of the boys insists that it be a "Boys Only" club, and that causes trouble with Henry's friend Beezus Quimby and her little sister Ramona. Henry and the Clubhouse was published in 1962.

Contents

Plot

Henry Huggins is the youngest boy in town to have a paper route. He takes his job very seriously, and works hard to make his father proud of him. He likes the responsibility, but he doesn't like the "collecting" aspect of the job; trying to get his customers to pay him on time. And when he goes to the new neighbor's house to sell her a subscription, his dog Ribsy embarrasses him by starting a fight with her Dalmatian. When little Ramona Quimby starts following him around trying to help, the other paper deliverers make fun of them, and all of his ideas to get rid of her seem to backfire.

Henry and his two friends Robert and Murph decide to build the world's best clubhouse in Henry's backyard, using wood donated by one of Henry's customers. The only problem is, Murph can't stand girls, and he insists that it be a "Boys Only" clubhouse. Henry doesn't like excluding his good friend Beezus Quimby, but he agrees to go along anyway. One day, Ramona locks Henry in the clubhouse and he can't get out until he reveals the secret password to Beezus, whom Ramona had gone to for help.

It isn't easy to have a job, a major building project, and friends who don't get along. But one winter day Henry feels sorry for Ramona, following him around in the deep snow, and takes her home on his sled before finishing his paper route. His kindness is noticed by one of his customers, who writes a letter to the editor praising him, and Henry ends up making his father proud.

Critical reception

Critics appreciated Cleary's humor, characterization and realistic plot, as seen in this review. "Beverly Cleary continues to provide a measure of relief from the suffocating flood of books about unreal talking animals and stock characters in the way of dogs and ponies and horses -- for her cast of characters can be matched in any average town and recognized as the children `round the block... But the things that happen seem real and there's humor for all ages in the story." [1] About both the Ramona and Henry Huggins series, Choosing Books for Kids write, "Cleary's characters, situations, and dialogue ring true and deal with recognizable problems eights and nines have at school and at home." [2]

Adaptations and editions

Television programs based on Henry Huggins in Japanese, Spanish, and Swedish; [3]

Audio formats: Henry and the Clubhouse is available on audiobook and CD from HarperAudio and cassette from Recorded Books; [4]

Print/English: Braille editions available from Avon, eBook from Dell Publishing, large print through HarperTrophy; [4]

Worldwide: As of 2010 Henry and the Clubhouse is available in 70 editions in seven languages. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Beverly Atlee Cleary is an American writer of children's and young adult fiction. One of America's most successful living authors, 91 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide since her first book was published in 1950. Some of Cleary's best known characters are Ramona Quimby and Beezus Quimby, Henry Huggins and his dog Ribsy, and Ralph S. Mouse.

<i>Ramona</i> (novel series) novel series by Beverly Cleary

The Ramona books are a series of eight humorous children's novels by Beverly Cleary that center on Ramona Quimby, her family and friends. The first book, Beezus and Ramona, appeared in 1955. The final book, Ramona's World, was published in 1999. Two books in the series were named Newbery Honor books, Ramona and Her Father and Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Ramona and Her Mother received the National Book Award. Sometimes known as the Beezus and Ramona series, as of 2012, the books were being marketed by HarperCollins as "The Complete Ramona Collection".

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Henry Huggins is a character appearing in a series of children's literature novels by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Louis Darling, and first appearing in Henry Huggins. He is a young boy living on Klickitat Street in Portland, Oregon. In the novels, he is in elementary school. The novels take place in the 1950s, which is when Cleary wrote most of the books. The books describe adventures that he experiences in his neighborhood and his interactions with other neighborhood children. He has a dog named Ribsy and a part-time job doing a paper route in North Portland.

<i>Ramona the Pest</i> novel by Beverly Cleary

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Ramona Geraldine Quimby is a fictional character in an eponymous series by Beverly Cleary. She starts out in the Henry Huggins series as the pestering little sister of Henry's friend Beatrice, his new best friend, called "Beezus" by Ramona and her family. She was given a larger role in the novel Beezus and Ramona, where Ramona appears to be a very undisciplined little girl, doing relatively awful things and getting away with it with near-impunity.

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<i>Henry and Beezus</i> novel by Beverly Cleary

Henry and Beezus is the second book in the Henry Huggins series. This humorous children's novel was written by Beverly Cleary and published in 1952. Henry comes up with many ways to earn money for the new red bicycle he wants, but they all seem to end up with him in trouble. Finally his friend Beezus gives him an idea that actually works.

Roberta Day Quimby is a fictional character created by American children's author Beverly Cleary. Named after her father, Robert Quimby, Roberta is the youngest of three Quimby children; Beezus Quimby is the eldest and Ramona Quimby, Beezus' best friend, is the middle child. In addition to her mother, father and sisters, she also has an aunt, uncle and cousin. She is introduced in the book Ramona Forever, and is one year old in the last book Ramona's World. Roberta has a playful personality, and she seems to be taking after Ramona. She was played by twins Aila and Zanti McCubbing in the 2010 film adaptation, Ramona and Beezus. There is currently no merchandise for Roberta, as she is a minor character.

References

  1. Kirkus Reviews, 9/1/1962;
  2. Oppenheim, Joanne, et al (editors), Choosing Books for Kids, Ballantine Books, 1986, pg. 184;
  3. "Author of the Month". McGraw Hill. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Formats and Editions. Henry and the Clubhouse. OCLC   171857.
  5. "Editions". Henry and the Clubhouse. Retrieved 2012-04-28.