Hi, Harry! : The Moving Story of How One Slow Tortoise Slowly Made a Friend

by WADDELL, MARTINFIRTH, BARBARA

• ISBN13: 9780763618025
• ISBN10: 0763618020
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-04-01
• Publisher: Candlewick

Summary

The author-illustrator team who brought us the best-selling LITTLE BEAR series offers a reassuring reminder that there's an ideal friend for everyone, no matter what your style. I wish I had someone to play with, thought Harry. Someone not quick who has time to play with a tortoise. No question, Harry Tortoise is slow. He's very, very, very slow. And everyone is so fast. If only he could find a friend as slow as he is, they could play games like Slow Races, and Turning Around and Turning Around Again. Even better, they could talk about how good it is to be slow, and how very, very nice it is to be friends. Isn't there anyone out there who appreciates life in the s-l-o-w lane?

Author Biography

Martin Waddell is the author of more than 100 books for children and young adults, including the beloved LITTLE BEAR series, illustrated by Barbara Firth (which has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide); FARMER DUCK, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury; and A KITTEN CALLED MOONLIGHT, illustrated by Christian Burningham. Martin Waddell says the real-life inspiration for HI, HARRY! looks a bit different from the Harry in the book. "The real Harry is a baby who always smiles when people say ‘hi.’ Somehow he became a tortoise in this story. I hope Harry will like it."


Barbara Firth is the illustrator of numerous children’s books, including many written by Martin Waddell. The author and illustrator have collaborated on TOM RABBIT and the award-winning picture books about Big and Little Bear. Barbara Firth based Harry on her own tortoise, named Waldo, whom she has had for the past twenty-five years. She says, "Waldo has a one-track mind like Harry, though, unlike Harry, Waldo is a fast mover when it comes to getting what he wants."