I Am Henry Finch by Alexis Deacon (review)

In this philosophical picture book, Henry Finch lives with his finch brethren in constant cacophony that’s broken only by the occasional invasion of the finchconsuming Beast. When one day Henry wakes up earlier than the rest of the other finches, he’s finally able to hear himself think, and he marvels at his own thoughts. One of those thoughts is his desire to defeat the Beast; unfortunately, his attempts to do so lead to his being eaten. Henry has another epiphany inside the Beast and manages to persuade the creature to go vegetarian and to let Henry back out; he relates his escapades to the rest of the finches and convinces them of the joys of having thoughts and plans of their own. Having previously partnered on the hilarious A Place to Call Home (BCCB 7/11), Deacon and Schwarz show similar wit here, with a wry absurdity in the finches’ daily routine. The story’s conceptual bent is unfocused and at times awkward, though; the point (silently made by the art) when Henry is in the Beast’s stomach seems to be interconnectedness, at other times it’s contemplation, and then at the end it seems to be independence and individuality. The layout and design are stylish and witty, with the finches each a big red thumbprint (a sly nod to uniqueness, since the prints are all different) that gains personality from only a few face lines and birdy feet; more elaborate line drawings go from black on white to white on black when Henry enters the belly of the Beast. Portis’ Wait (BCCB 10/15) is a tighter look at philosophy, but youngsters may find this an occasion, with adult prompting, to consider the book’s messages, and they will be amused by the witty art.