Herman's Letter

October 6, 2014
Henry the raccoon, best friend to Herman the bear, hasn’t just moved away—based on his letters, which extol great weather, new friends, and a hot-air balloon ride, it sounds like Henry has moved on, too. The dejected Herman doesn’t respond to Henry’s missives, and he is on the verge of hibernation when another letter from Henry reaffirms their friendship, convincing Herman that he must respond by any means necessary. Percival (Jack’s Amazing Shadow) uses lift-the-flap letters to give concrete reality to the friends’ correspondence, and his portrayal of Herman’s vulnerability is touching and funny. The second half of the book falters, though, as the letters are supplanted by Herman’s ain’t-no-mountain-high-enough quest to reach Henry. Percival expertly composes his vignettes, evoking snow and cold with splatters of white and washes of pale turquoise, but the writing is overly literal, and the slapstick humor creates some confusion (Herman disconcertingly slips directly from unconsciousness to hibernation). An abrupt ending, which crams in an eleventh-hour conflict regarding Herman’s snoring, doesn’t do justice to these friends’ devotion. Ages 3–6.

September 1, 2014

PreS-Gr 2-Best buddies Herman, a chocolate-colored bear, and Henry, a magenta raccoon, spend all of their time together, playing tiddlywinks, inventing games, and hanging out in their pirate tree house. Both are devastated when Henry has to move away, promising to write and "stay best friends forever." However, when Herman receives Henry's missives about his exciting new life and new chums, the bear is left feeling lonely, jealous, and too miserable to reply. Just when it's time for him to hibernate, he gets a letter from Henry, reaffirming their bond and inviting him to visit. The ecstatic bear pens an enthusiastic reply and rushes out to mail it, only to discover that the post office is closed for the winter. Refusing to be deterred, he sets off to deliver the letter himself-setting off on an epic journey (across "creaking crevices," up steep cliffs and frozen waterfalls, down a treacherous mountain slope) that eventually reunites him with his much-pined-for friend. Filled with amusing details, the dynamic artwork fuels the text with action and humor, and lift-the-flap letters add an appealing interactive element. This book proves that true friendship endures despite distance and duress.-Joy Fleishhacker, School Library Journal

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2015
Bear Herman finds it hard to reply to his raccoon best friend Henry's letters about exciting new friends and experiences, but one letter prompts Herman to hand-deliver his response, setting him on an adventurous journey to visit the friend he so misses. Friends separated by a move will identify with Herman's vulnerability. Spirited illustrations and lift-the-flap letters add some interest to the rambling story.

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)