Andrew Henry’s Meadow

Andrew Henry’s Meadow by Doris Burn (1965)

When I was a little girl, I loved to make forts and draw elaborate inventions and pretend.

My imagination, along with my sister’s, knew no bounds.  We could invent a world for anything . We were never bored. We would play with sticks and rocks in there were no toys or dolls.

I was given this book in the first grade by my first grade teacher, Mrs. Hanson at Knollwood Elementary in Rapid City, SD.

To be given a shiny brand new book was the best thing ever!   

When I read this book, I was mesmerized.  A little boy who liked to build things and whose family did not appreciate all of the amazing inventions he would build in the house and yard.  So what does Andrew Henry do?  He runs away and finds a place where he can be who he wants to be and do what he wants to do.  Soon, the rest of children in the neighborhood whose hobbies and passions are not appreciated follow suit and Andrew Henry creates a community where kids can be who they are meant to be.

This is my favorite children’s book of all time.