Unlike his classmates, Henry (East Asian) is not excited for class picture day. His striped shirt is irritating: the collar too close to his ears, the cuffs too tight around his wrists. And the buttons? They’re never ending! Worse, Vivianne tells Henry that her mom says stripes make a person look taller—but Henry is not taller, which makes his shirt a liar. When the photographer is running late, the class munches on some mess-free carrots in the meantime—and Henry’s tooth starts to wiggle, leading to a degree of chaos. Vivianne frets that a loose tooth will “ruin [their] picture,” but despite his classmates’ efforts, the tooth will not be secured; to the contrary, it falls out and gets lost in the shuffle. Could it be one of those white specks in the soil of the potted plants? Better dig to find out. By the time the tooth is located, Henry’s shirt is streaked with dirt. Surely this will ruin their picture, Vivianne says. Ms. Tanaka, though, is reassuring. “Pictures are meant to show special times and special friends. That is all.” Henry takes this to heart. The class picture was “not about a shirt. Henry did not have to be perfect. He just had to be Henry.” This latest installment about Henry, who thrives on routine and is likely neurodivergent, is charming, reassuring, and full of humorous classroom antics.

The third chapter book in the award-winning Henry series, starring a sweet and sensitive child on the autism spectrum, is a story about embracing life's messier moments and one’s own uniqueness.

It is Picture Day for Classroom Ten! Mrs. Tanaka says that the class will take a perfect picture. And on Picture Day, everyone smiles. The trouble is that Henry does not feel perfect. His new shirt has stripes. He has never practiced smiling. And, worst of all, his front tooth is starting to wobble.

Join Henry and the kids of Classroom Ten in this warm and funny tale of Picture Day pressure, loose tooth trouble, and learning what it truly means to make a day—and a memory—that is picture perfect. Part of the Schneider Family Award and Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor-winning series, this is a reassuring read for all school-age kids.

JUST RIGHT FOR BEGINNING READERS: With short chapters and simple text, this book is perfect for newly independent readers who are just moving into longer books.

GREAT BACK-TO-SCHOOL READ: Perfect for any reader starting a new school year, the Henry series explores common school experiences in a gentle, funny, and encouraging way. 

DIVERSE STORIES: Representing neurodivergent kids is a vital aspect of expanding diverse representation across books for all ages. The Henry series provides a mirror and a window for kids on the autism spectrum and their friends to see themselves in the stories they read.

AWARD-WINNING TEAM: Jenn Bailey and Mika Song have received the Schneider Family Book Award and a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor for their Henry stories. Follow along with each new adventure in this much-loved series!

Perfect for:

• Newly independent readers
• An excellent resource for parents of kids on the spectrum
• Librarians, teachers, and booksellers looking for a children’s book that offers a window into the experience of autism
• A reassuring read for kids with varying levels of social anxiety
• Gift-givers looking for a sweet and relatable book about new experiences