Happy Harry's Cafe

What’s not to love? A classic tale told with sly humor, for little ones with an appetite for laughs.

Harry makes great soup. So Harry’s friends are always running to his café just for that famous soup. One day, Ryan the Lion, Jo the Crow, and Matt the Cat all bustle into Harry’s shop. "Take it easy!" says Harry. But maybe Harry is taking it too easy? You see, Matt the Cat is not too happy with his soup today. Oy vey! He doesn’t want to kvetch, but won’t Harry please try it to find out what could possibly be wrong? Michael Rosen’s hilarious send-up of a beloved Jewish joke delightfully and deliciously leads you to the punch line, while Richard Holland’s whimsical animal characters burst with exuberance.Holland’s mixed-media charcoals and collage offer enough to interest the eye, and embellished with improvised animal sounds and song, it could be an entertaining read-aloud.
—New York Times

Cheerful, bright, blocky mixed-media illustrations go well with the jocular intent of the story.
—School Library Journal

The full-page mixed-media illustrations are eye-catching, and coordinate well with the vibrantly large text. Little ones will enjoy these illustrations because of their simplicity. Combine this with the repetition of text, and a “soup song,” and this book is sure to become a steadfast favorite.
—Library Media ConnectionMichael Rosen is an award-winning author and anthologist of books for young readers, including Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, illustrated by Jane Ray, and Shakespeare: His Work & His World, illustrated by Robert Ingpen. Michael Rosen lives in London.

Richard Holland has illustrated many books, including The Time Book, Mary’s Penny, and The Museum Book. He lives in Essex, England.