Heather Henson Books

I have a grumpy grandpa!

(Shhhhh! Don't tell HIM that!)

A truly loveable and undeniably grumpy book to share with a grandpa, or anyone who's ever felt...grumpy!

Check the media page for reviews

Here's How I See It—Here's How It Is

here's how i see it

Rave reviews, an endless request for autographs, my name in lights on Broadway.

here's how it is

The audience is half empty, I spend zero time onstage, my dad's midlife crisis is about to ruin the playhouse...and my family.

Junebug dreams of being a leading lady someday. A serious actress, a stage actress, a real actress. And it should be easy for her to get her start -- her parents own the Blue Moon Playhouse, after all, and her dad performed on Broadway (once). But the truth is, at (almost) thirteen, she's not even a supporting actress or a stand-in or an understudy or even a child actor has-been. In the current Blue Moon production, her role is this: thunder, props...and stagehand (gopher, actually). And lately it seems like maybe the stagehand mindset -- go unnoticed, don't say a word -- is rubbing off on Junebug's personality. She's starting to feel as though her opinions never count, her worries aren't taken seriously, that she's becoming the ultimate stagehand: invisible. And that's not a role she's happy with.

Check the media page for reviews

That Book Woman

illustrated by David Small
publishing October 2008

A Junior Library Guild Selection

A First Book Selection

A Parenting Magazine Best Books 2008 Selection

A Smithsonian Magazine Best Books 2008 Selection

An honorable mention for Favorite Picture Book of the Year in the 2008 "Cuffies," from Children's Booksellers natonwide!

Cal is not the readin' type. Living way high up in the Appalachian Mountains, he'd rather help Pap plow or go out after wandering sheep than try some book learning. Nope. Cal does not want to sit stoney-still reading some chicken scratch. But that Book Woman keeps coming just the same. She comes in the rain. She comes in the snow. She comes right up the side of the mountain, and Cal knows that's not easy riding. And all just to lend his sister some books. Why, that woman must be plain foolish -- or is she braver than he ever thought?

That Book Woman is a rare and moving tale that honors a special part of American history -- the Pack Horse Librarians, who helped untold numbers of children see the stories amid the chicken scratch, and thus made them into lifetime readers.

Check the media page for reviews

Angel Coming

illustrated by Susan Gaber
published 2005

Mama says we must be ready,
ready for that angel coming.

High in the hills of Kentucky, a little girl eagerly awaits the arrival of a very special visitor -- an "angel" who, she is told, will come riding up the mountain on horseback, carrying a baby sister or brother in her saddlebag.

      Li''l sis is what I''m wanting.
     Li''l sis is what I''ll call her.
     I''ll braid her hair right pretty,
     brush it out most every night.

But the "angel" is not exactly what the young narrator imagined, and neither is the precious bundle that comes when she least expects it.

This gem of a story highlights a little-known piece of American history: the Frontier Nursing Service, a pioneering group of women who came to be called "angels on horseback."

Check the media page for reviews

Making the Run

published 2002

loner lu, crazy lu

All her life Lulu McClellan has heard the names. Growing up in a small Kentucky town, Lu has forever felt like she's on the outside looking in. Maybe that's why she takes pictures-to make sense of what she sees and feels but doesn't always understand.

countdown to freedom

Now that graduation is almost here, Lu and her friend Ginny are moving in a quick blur of drugs and drink. Lu thinks she's just marking time, waiting for the moment when life will begin for real. end of innocence

But the road is full of unmarked twists and turns. Without warning, Lu free-falls into first love, white Ginny begins a deadly spiral into oblivion.

a startling portrait

In stark, poetic prose, Heather Henson writes about what it means to come to a crucial crossroads and find the courage to make a run for the unknown.

Check the media page for reviews

Here's How I See It--Here's How It Is

coming April 2009

NOW CASTING: THE LEADING ROLE IN MY OWN LIFE

Props are important, yes, so are making thunder and closing curtains. And Junebug takes her job at the Blue Moon very seriously. She has to. It's a serious playhouse and ner parents' pride and joy. But lately June is worried the stagehand mindset—go unnoticed, be unheard—is starting to become her personality. Her opinions never count, her worries aren't taken seriously. June might just be the ultimate stagehand: invisible. And that's not a role she's happy with. As June starts speaking up in uncharacteristic ways—about her sister's ego, the weird kid on staff, and her father's new leading lady—she realizes that unscripted scenes can play out in ways that aren't intended.



Grumpy Grandpa I have a grumpy grandpa! (Shhhhh! Don't tell HIM that!) A truly loveable and undeniably grumpy book to share with a grandpa, or anyone who's ever felt...grumpy! Check the media page for reviews

Here's How I See It—Here's How It Is here's how i see it Rave reviews, an endless request for autographs, my name in lights on Broadway. here's how it is The audience is half empty, I spend zero time onstage, my dad's midlife crisis is about to ruin the playhouse...and my family. Junebug dreams of being a leading lady someday. A serious actress, a stage actress, a real actress. And it should be easy for her to get her start -- her parents own the Blue Moon Playhouse, after all, and her dad performed on Broadway (once). But the truth is, at (almost) thirteen, she's not even a supporting actress or a stand-in or an understudy or even a child actor has-been. In the current Blue Moon production, her role is this: thunder, props...and stagehand (gopher, actually). And lately it seems like maybe the stagehand mindset -- go unnoticed, don't say a word -- is rubbing off on Junebug's personality. She's starting to feel as though her opinions never count, her worries aren't taken seriously, that she's becoming the ultimate stagehand: invisible. And that's not a role she's happy with. Check the media page for reviews

That Book Woman illustrated by David Small publishing October 2008 A Junior Library Guild Selection A First Book Selection A Parenting Magazine Best Books 2008 Selection A Smithsonian Magazine Best Books 2008 Selection An honorable mention for Favorite Picture Book of the Year in the 2008 "Cuffies," from Children's Booksellers natonwide! Cal is not the readin' type. Living way high up in the Appalachian Mountains, he'd rather help Pap plow or go out after wandering sheep than try some book learning. Nope. Cal does not want to sit stoney-still reading some chicken scratch. But that Book Woman keeps coming just the same. She comes in the rain. She comes in the snow. She comes right up the side of the mountain, and Cal knows that's not easy riding. And all just to lend his sister some books. Why, that woman must be plain foolish -- or is she braver than he ever thought? That Book Woman is a rare and moving tale that honors a special part of American history -- the Pack Horse Librarians, who helped untold numbers of children see the stories amid the chicken scratch, and thus made them into lifetime readers. Check the media page for reviews

Angel Coming illustrated by Susan Gaber published 2005 Mama says we must be ready, ready for that angel coming. High in the hills of Kentucky, a little girl eagerly awaits the arrival of a very special visitor -- an "angel" who, she is told, will come riding up the mountain on horseback, carrying a baby sister or brother in her saddlebag. Li''l sis is what I''m wanting. Li''l sis is what I''ll call her. I''ll braid her hair right pretty, brush it out most every night. But the "angel" is not exactly what the young narrator imagined, and neither is the precious bundle that comes when she least expects it. This gem of a story highlights a little-known piece of American history: the Frontier Nursing Service, a pioneering group of women who came to be called "angels on horseback." Check the media page for reviews

Making the Run published 2002 loner lu, crazy lu All her life Lulu McClellan has heard the names. Growing up in a small Kentucky town, Lu has forever felt like she's on the outside looking in. Maybe that's why she takes pictures-to make sense of what she sees and feels but doesn't always understand. countdown to freedom Now that graduation is almost here, Lu and her friend Ginny are moving in a quick blur of drugs and drink. Lu thinks she's just marking time, waiting for the moment when life will begin for real. end of innocence But the road is full of unmarked twists and turns. Without warning, Lu free-falls into first love, white Ginny begins a deadly spiral into oblivion. a startling portrait In stark, poetic prose, Heather Henson writes about what it means to come to a crucial crossroads and find the courage to make a run for the unknown. Check the media page for reviews

Here's How I See It--Here's How It Is coming April 2009 NOW CASTING: THE LEADING ROLE IN MY OWN LIFE Props are important, yes, so are making thunder and closing curtains. And Junebug takes her job at the Blue Moon very seriously. She has to. It's a serious playhouse and ner parents' pride and joy. But lately June is worried the stagehand mindset—go unnoticed, be unheard—is starting to become her personality. Her opinions never count, her worries aren't taken seriously. June might just be the ultimate stagehand: invisible. And that's not a role she's happy with. As June starts speaking up in uncharacteristic ways—about her sister's ego, the weird kid on staff, and her father's new leading lady—she realizes that unscripted scenes can play out in ways that aren't intended. Check the media page for reviews

Grumpy Grandpa

Here's How I See It—Here's How It Is

That Book Woman

Angel Coming

Making the Run

Here's How I See It--Here's How It Is