After two thrilling mysteries and a moving picture book for older readers, Jennifer Lanthier now reaches out to younger children. Hurry up, Henry tells the story of a little boy who knows the value of stopping to smell the flowers.

Nearly everyone else is in a hurry to get somewhere or do something: his mother, his father, his sister, even his best friend Simon. The one person who understands is Grandma.  She moves slowly too – and appreciates the time it takes to really stay in touch with the world around us. At the same time, Simon is a clever and loyal friend. He and Grandma cook up a birthday surprise for Henry that demonstrates how much we all need to slow down.

Isabelle Malenfant’s colorful illustrations capture the emotions and personalities of the stories characters.

Jennifer Minicus is a teacher living in Ridgewood, NJ.