Product Description

Illustrated in black-and-white. When her parents can't afford a new pet,

seven-year-old Janie invents one. Her new pretend dog is Henry, an invisible

Great Dane who eats invisible food bought with invisible money. Then some

mysterious events--and perhaps a touch of magic--bring the invisible Henry to

life. "King-Smith has created another irresistible yarn."--Booklist.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #248503 in Books
• Published on: 1995-05-10
• Released on: 1995-05-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 80 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780679870418
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
King-Smith produces another winner with this latest animal yarn starring a lovable little girl with a jumbo-size dream. Rupert, the family dog, has long been in his grave when Janie discovers his collar in the garage. Knowing her parents would never buy another Great Dane (they are too expensive to feed), the determined eight-year-old decides to invent a pet of her own. Enter Henry, the invisible dog who eats invisible food purchased with invisible money . . . . What follows is a captivating conglomeration of propitious events, acts of fate and magical brewings which lead to Henry's metamorphosis into a real live dog. Like its predecessors, including Babe the Gallant Pig , Pretty Polly and Paddy's Pot of Gold , this slim volume is chock-full of warmth, zany imagination and soft-hearted irony. This novel will appeal to animal lovers of all ages, and also to those who believe or fervently hope that wishes can come true. Ages 7-10.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 2-- A beginning chapter book that is well up to King-Smith's usual high standards. Janie is nearly eight-years-old and can barely remember her family Great Dane that died when she was two. She longs for another pet, but her parents insist that they no longer have the time or the money for such a large dog. Janie finds Rupert's collar and leash hanging in the garage and begins an elaborate game of pretending to have an imaginary dog. She meets an elderly neighbor who enters into the fun. How Janie succeeds in finding, first, the money she needs, and then, her flesh-and-blood Great Dane makes a marvelously unpredictable tale, and one that ends with a tantalizing bit of ambiguity. The author has the ability to round out characters in just a few well-chosen words. A fine choice for newly independent readers or as a classroom read-aloud. Children will beg for more. --Ruth Semrau, Lovejoy School, Allen, TX
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
When Janie finds the leash and collar that belonged to Rupert--a paragon of a dog who died five years ago when she was two--her parents make it clear that they're not about to replace him: only another Great Dane would do, and they're far too expensive. Janie, a sensible lass whose persistence and imagination much resemble King-Smith's Sophie's, wastes no time in argument; instead, she declares the existence of an invisible Great Dane, gets her dad involved in naming him Henry, walks him around on the old leash, and makes friends with an elderly neighbor who accepts Henry's existence with a good-humored common sense that mirrors Janie's own. In the end, a real dog is found; just as her parents are beginning to come round anyhow, Janie gets an unexpected bequest, and they find a half-grown pup with a tiny kink in his tail that gives him a bargain price. A minor effort from this reliable author, but told in his usual refreshingly brisk style and set forth in attractive, easy- looking format. (Young reader. 7-10) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Customer Reviews

A Great Dog
This book is about a girl named Janie who finds a collar that belonged to her Great Dane, Rupert, who died when she was younger.
She carries it with her down the street. Mrs. Garrow, one of her neighbors, sees her and makes believe that she is petting a dog and gives Janie compliments on it. So Janie names her invisible harlequin Great Dane, Henry. She takes him everywhere she goes except school.
When her birthday comes her parents surprise her and take her to a dog show. She hopes the Harlequin Great Dane will win.
Read the book to find out who wins the show, what Mrs. Garrow finds in the teacup and how Janie's dream of owning a Great Dane comes true.
If you enjoy books that you can't put down, you'll love this one. I really love books about dogs so that is why I would recommend it to others who love dog stories.

A Little Girl's Invisible Best Friend
The author of the junior novel which the film Babe was based on has written a great tale about a dog named Henry. The Invisible Dog is a quick and simple read that both children and adults will enjoy. There are also a few illustrations inside as well.

Henry is a Great Dane and only a little girl named Janie and an old lady at the end of the street can see him. To everyone else Henry is invisible at a disturbing at times imagination of Janie who just seems to be carrying the family's dead dog's collar around the place. Janie knows Henry is real, she feeds it invisible food and cleans up its invisible waste and her father has told if she can raise $500 they'll get a dog everyone can see. Janie is very specific though, she knows the colour and everything that the dog they will get will be, because she's been walking it everyday for a long time now.

book good, quality of paper and printing poor
When I read the review of this book I thought it would be good for my 7-year-old grand-daughterwho had a smiilar experience and was still mourning the loss of Labrador. I liked the topic and the story. However, I was stunned by the gray pages and dark print of the book. I didn't expect a Disney type picture book, but books for children should, at least, be on clear, strong, good white paper. The quality of this book reminded me of the books put out during and after WWII when the paper industry was just beginning to recycle paper. What a disappointment. I was embarrassed to give my granddaughter this dingy looking book.