I first fell in love with Doris Burn when we found her book "Summerfolk" (which kicked off this blog all those years ago!). She lived and worked on an island off of Washington State with no running water or electricity. She talked of chopping wood and hauling buckets of water to wash her brushes and brew a "perpetual pot of tea". (I'm reminded of Tasha Tudor's lifestyle). She had four children, who I can only imagine had an incredible childhood in this back to nature landscape. Her oldest son was the inspiration for this book.
Andrew Henry's Meadow
Doris Burn 1965
Andrew Henry is always building things and annoying his family with his contraptions. So he heads off on his own, through Burdock's pasture, over Blackbriar Hill and across Worzibsky's Swamp to the most perfect meadow with a stream running through. Here he builds himself a house just as any kid might dream to, "made of clay and rocks and poles. The roof was made of fir boughs, and outside one window there was a fine landing field for dragonflies."
It's not too long before he's joined by other kids who's parents are just as discouraging about their interests- Alice Burdock and her collection of birds, George Turner with his fishing poles and boats, Joe Polasky and all his pets. Andrew Henry not only welcomes them, but builds them suitable homes as well. The collection of houses in the meadow is every child's dream! Eventually the children are missed by their families and there is a happy reunion. (I guess you couldn't have a children's book where the kids run away from their families and live happily on their own forever!)
Doris Burn is one of those few authors who seems to still remember what it feels like to be a child and her books reflect that. I think that's why we love and relate to them so much! (Also, I sometimes have days where I want to run off and live in Andrew Henry's meadow myself!)
