Synopses & Reviews
Henry P. Baloney may be from another planet, but he's got problems just like you. If he doesn't come up with one very good excuse for being late, his teacher is promising him Permanent Lifelong Detention.
This is Henry's story. It's about amazing adventures and near misses. It's about the life-saving importance of imagination when you are in a tight spot. It's also about that weird feeling you get when you are learning to read and every other word looks like it comes from outer space. It's about way too much fantastic stuff to squeeze into this little space.
Anyway, it's Henry's tale. You should probably hear it straight from him.
Review
"Amateur linguists will have a field day exploring this non-nonsense." Publishers Weekly
Review
"This could be the story of any Earthling student with a vivid imagination who needs to come up with 'one very good and very believable excuse'....Baloney is sure to fly off the shelves and out the pordo (door) of your library." School Library Journal
Review
"[E]very Earth kid will immediately recognize a soul mate in this extraterrestrial truth-stretcher and tall-tale teller." Booklist, Starred Review
Description
The twisted team that gave the world Squids Will Be Squids and The Stinky Cheese Man now delivers a whole lot of Baloney. Henry P. Baloney. Henry is an alien schoolkid who needs to come up with one very good excuse to explain why he is late for szkola, again. Otherwise, his teacher Miss Bugscuffle promises, it's Permanent Lifelong Detention.
Henry's tall tale of his lost zimulis-received from deep space by Jon Scieszka-is told in at least twenty different Earth languages and graphically recreated in Lane Smith's out-of-this-world illustrations.
The unbelievable trip into Henry's wild universe may be the most original excuse ever for being late for szkola. Or it might just be Baloney. Henry P. Baloney.
About the Author
Multiple award-winning author Jon Scieszka grew up in Flint, Michigan, the second oldest and the nicest of six boys. Jon went to school at Culver Military Academy in Indiana where he was a Lieutenant; Albion College in Michigan where he studied to be a doctor; and Columbia University in New York, where he received an M.F.A. in fiction. He taught elementary school in New York for ten years in a variety of positions. He is the author of many books for children including the New York Times Best Illustrated Book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales (illustrated by Lane Smith), the Caldecott Honor book The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (illustrated by Lane Smith), and Math Curse (illustrated by Lane Smith). In addition to his work as an author, Jon also runs a web-based literacy program called Guys Read” that is designed to encourage boys, particularly reluctant readers, to get involved with books. In 2008, Jon was named the countrys first National Ambassador for Young Peoples Literature, a joint effort of the Library of Congress and the Childrens Book Council. During his two-year role as Ambassador, he acted as a spokesperson for childrens literature, speaking to groups of parents, teachers, and children to encourage the importance of reading. You can visit Jon online at www.jsworldwide.com.