Henry, like always by Jenn Bailey, illustrated by Mika Song

Henry was first introduced in a picture book in 2019, A Friend for Henry, where Henry, a neurodiverse child, made a friend who was just right for him. Last year, in 2023, Bailey returned to Henry in chapter book format. In this story, Henry has settled well into Classroom 10. He enjoys the routine and knows exactly what will happen next. But what happens when his routine is disrupted?

Song's blue-washed illustrations show Henry's frustration with the change to his routine and his stubborn insistence on things being the way they are supposed to be. Bailey writes with empathy and understanding, showing different reactions from different children. While Henry shuts down and is upset at the changes, while Samuel's exuberance and noise gets him into trouble in different ways. In the end, after Henry struggles all week, he and Samuel figure out a solution to make them both happy and accommodate both their needs.

The teacher, Mrs. Tanaka, is kind and sympathetic, trying to balance the interests and needs of all the kids. Although only a small classroom is depicted, it's fairly realistic that while Henry has coping strategies in place, she can't rearrange things just for him. The text is what I'd call transitional, with short chapters and few contractions used in the simple sentences.

Verdict: This isn't a very exciting story, but it will appeal to families who like quiet, gentle stories like Henry and Mudge. It's also great to see representation of a neurodiverse child who struggles but also takes control of their own environment and figures out a solution on their own.

ISBN: 9781797213897; Published March 2023 by Chronicle Books; Purchased for the library