Henry Is an Artist

⋆"A masterpiece of excremental fiction."--Booklist (starred review)

"Calls to mind Harry the Dirty Dog and that classic canine Clifford . . . a delightfully oddball tale." --Kirkus reviews

A hilariously funny and unique story about Henry, a dog who is disappointed when the new pieces of "art" he creates each day on his walks to the park are continuiously thrown in the garbage!

Henry is a dedicated artist, a master sculptor, and . . . a dog. Each day on his walks to the park, he leaves his new "art" for people to admire. But his sculptures keep getting tossed in the garbage without even being noticed! That is until, one day, when someone quite unexpected falls in love with his work and at last Henry has his moment to shine.

This tongue-in-cheek and truly unique picture book about creativity, perseverence, and, well, poop, is a hilarious ode to undiscovered artists everywhere. 

Perfect for readers who loved No One Likes a Fart, My Butt is So Noisy, and Peter Reynolds's Creatrilogy. ⋆"There’s plenty of humor baked into the premise, but Worsley’s debut is more than some vulgar presentation of fecal comedy. There’s a real humanity (and caninity) found in Henry’s earnest enthusiasm, in the simple gouache strokes of his gentle rendering, so that when we find him at work, face and body scrunched up in the throes of a fresh dump, yes, of course it’s hilarious, but it’s also relatable. When word of Henry’s work spreads through the insect community, drawing a crowd, it’s undeniably satisfying to read that “Henry’s sculpture is a sensation!” With real heart and truth buried beneath the dung, this proves to be a masterpiece of excremental fiction." --Booklist (starred review)

"[This] story will find a ready audience among those readers with a love of potty humor (and they are many). Beyond the gross-out factor, Henry’s happy-go-lucky energy calls to mind Harry the Dirty Dog and that classic canine Clifford, while Worsley’s expressive watercolors, painted broadly and simply, are perfectly lovely. Scatological humor and eye-catching images make for a delightfully oddball tale." --Kirkus reviewsJustin Worsley is an illustrator, author, and toy designer. After nearly thirty years of designing toys, he decided it was time for a change and followed his long-held dream of becoming a children's book illustrator and graduated from Cambridge School of Art in 2023. When he's not working, he's usually riding his bike or walking his dog, Percy.