I've had Elisha Cooper's HENRY for a good ten years by now, and every now and then I pick it up and read it again. It's not a long book; you can read it and admire its many simple and lovely illustrations in less than an hour. The story is pretty simple too. About a boy and his puppy, and how the puppy grows bigger and older. And ditto for the boy, although that's more or less understood. I suppose some would say HENRY is not suitable for children, because it alludes to sex and deals with the touchy subject of death. Some parents apparently feel children should not be exposed to such things. But I disagree. Consider OLD YELLER and THE YEARLING, both wonderful classic novels, and adapted into equally great films. Yes Yeller and Flag die. But animals do die, and that's not something you can hide from children forever. My feeling: pets - or other domestic or wild animals - are perhaps one of the best ways for children to learn about death. And better sooner than later. Elisha Cooper tells it all simply and beautifully, and softens it somehow with his pictures. It's a book that you will begin with smiles and chuckles, and end with tears in your eyes. Over the years it has become a personal favorite. I have loved - and lost - several dear dogs in my lifetime. Cooper understands the joy, the pain and the grief of loving dogs. A neighbor of mine who rescues greyhounds (and has had several) summed it up best when he told me, "Dogs. No matter how much you love 'em, it always ends in grief." True, Jim. But remember all the joy they give us too. I love my dogs, and I love this book. ( )

Illustrated, story of a boys attachment to a yellow lab. ( )