Henry Huggins
Author: Beverly Cleary
Illustrator: Tracy Dockray
Book 1 in the Henry Huggins series
Pages: 192
Published: 1950
Age: 6+
Boys and girls alike will be charmed instantly by an average boy whose life is turned upside down when he meets a lovable puppy with a nose for mischief.
Just as Henry Huggins is complaining that nothing exciting ever happens, a friendly dog sits down beside him and looks pleadingly at his ice-cream cone. From that moment on, the two are inseparable. But when Ribsy's original owner appears, trying to reclaim his dog, Henry's faced with the possibility of losing his new best friend. Has Klickitat Street seen the last of rambunctious Ribsy?
- A Boy and His Dog: Henry Huggins wanted excitement, and he found it in a skinny stray dog he names Ribsy. Their bond is the heart of this timeless story.
- Laugh-Out-Loud Misadventures: From a disastrous bus ride home to an unforgettable dog show involving pink talcum powder, Henry’s good intentions often lead to hilarious chaos.
- Everyday Adventures: Discover the excitement of a classic American childhood on Klickitat Street, where earning money for a football means catching night crawlers and a pair of guppies can take over a bedroom.
- The World of Beverly Cleary: Meet the beloved characters of Klickitat Street in the book that started it all, from the author of the Ramona Quimby series.
About the Henry Huggins Series
Books in series order
- 1.Henry Huggins(1950)
- 2.Henry and Beezus(1952)
- 3.Henry and Ribsy(1953)
- 4.Henry and the Paper Route(1957)
- 5.Henry and the Clubhouse(1962)
- 6.Ribsy(1964)
Reading age: 6+ years
Beverly Cleary’s Henry Huggins series follows the everyday adventures of Henry, a curious and good-hearted boy growing up on Klickitat Street. Life becomes much more interesting when Henry meets Ribsy, a scruffy stray dog who quickly becomes his loyal companion and frequent source of trouble.
With humor, warmth, and a keen understanding of childhood, the series turns ordinary neighborhood events—earning money, caring for pets, joining clubs, delivering newspapers, and dealing with friends—into lively and memorable stories. Henry’s world also introduces readers to familiar characters such as Beezus and Ramona Quimby, making the books a natural starting point for children discovering Beverly Cleary’s classic stories.
These realistic, gently funny chapter books are especially well suited to readers who enjoy relatable characters, neighborhood adventures, and stories about the small but important challenges of growing up.