Andrew Henry’s Meadow by Doris Burn is a perfect picture book. For boys especially.

“. . . Andrew Henry Thatcher lived with his family in the town of Stubbsville. He had a father and a mother and two older sisters named Marian and Martha. The girls were always with each other. He also had two younger brothers named Robert and Ronald. They were always with each other, too. Andrew Henry was in the middle. He was always with himself, yet he didn’t mind. He had plenty of things to do.”

And boy, did he ever have things to do.

“Andrew Henry liked to build things.”

He built a helicopter in the kitchen.

And an eagle’s nest in the living room.

And a merry-go-round hitched up to his sisters’ sewing machine.

And a pulley system in his brothers’ room.

Everywhere Andrew Henry set up his projects, he was shooed away. But, he was undaunted. One day, he headed outside. Andrew Henry walked out of his front yard, through the pasture, over the hill, past the swamp, and through the woods.

He stopped when he reached the meadow. There, he built a house for himself.

“But Andrew Henry wasn’t alone long. Soon Alice Burdock stepped out of the deep woods. She had her bird things with her. Mr. Burdock, who was a farmer, didn’t care for birds. They ate his cherries, scratched up his corn, and nestled in his barn.”

Alice was just the first friend to appear. And each wanted a house for themselves. Perfectly suited to their interests and needs.

The black and white illustration in this book is enchanting. The details on the dragonfly’s wings and the lovely pictures of nature demonstrate real artistic merit. Each page has a scene which is a story unto itself. The art is perfect.

The story itself is longish for a picture book but not too long to enjoy in a few minutes. The words themselves are well chosen, but most importantly, they support the illustration harmoniously.

This one belongs in every library where little people are considered. I would consider it as good as Blueberries for Sal or Make Way For Ducklings. If you love the illustration, don’t miss We Were Tired of Living In A House illustrated by Doris Burn. Andrew Henry’s Meadow can be found at Amazon.