Book Reveiw: Henry Hodges Needs a Friend by Andy Andrews

Here is a book that I requested from *Netgalley because I thought that the cover was cute and that the title was a bit heartbreaking.

Henry Hodges is a lonely little boy who doesn't have any friends that live nearby. He had become bored playing with his toys.  But one day his mother tells him not to worry and that he would be getting a special pet. He imagines all different fantastic pets with fantastic abilities. When he gets to the shelter he sees a lonely little doggy and know right away that this is his special new friend.

Ok first let me say that this book is sad. As a child I was one of those children who was a loner and had very few friends so I could relate to the depression Henry went through. Just like Henry though I finally had a friend in my family pet. A blond cocker spaniel named Sandy.

Often times my son is lonely as well and that breaks my heart. It is partly because he doesn't always know how to play with kids his own age. He does well with kids who are 3 or 4 years old but bigger kids he sometimes has a hard time with. They can do things he can't do and know things he doesn't understand. It is sometimes frustrating for him because he so wants to play with the "big boys". So sadly I think my son understood Henry more than I would have liked him to.

We both loved the illustrations in this book and I loved the message that even if you are lonely now there is someone out there for you. For Henry it was his new puppy.

5 out of 5 stars!!

*I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion
**This book was read with my special needs son who is severely learning disabled. The review reflects not only my opinion but his as well