39 pages 1 hour read

Beverly Cleary, Illustr. Tracy Dockray

Henry Huggins

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1950

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Important Quotes

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“His hair looked like a scrubbing brush.”


(Chapter 1, Page 1)

The author uses a simile to compare Henry’s hair to a bristly brush. At the time Beverly Cleary wrote the book, short haircuts called “buzz cuts” were popular among young men. The shorn head would feel coarse rather than soft. 

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“‘Just one bite,’ the dog’s brown eyes seemed to say.”


(Chapter 1, Page 5)

Anthropomorphism is giving an animal or something inanimate human-like qualities. From the first introduction of Ribsy, the author gives him human traits. Ribsy coaxes Henry to share his ice cream cone with a longing gaze much like a human child might beg for a treat. 

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“Thump, thump, thump.”


(Chapter 1, Page 7)

Onomatopoeia is a literary device where the word describes a sound. Ribsy’s tail makes a distinctive sound and becomes one of his signature traits. His thumping tail will later become a problem. 

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