Tamara's Reviews > Harrison Loved His Umbrella

Occasionally, books we read as children don't have the same resonance when read as adults, but I am pleased that Harrison Loved His Umbrella is not one of them. This one was a particular favourite in my family, with Harrison still being referenced from time to time to this day, and everyone understanding that he certainly loved his umbrella. It's a pithy story about individuality, with gorgeous and colourful illustrations, and will forever hold a special place in my heart.

A colleague of mine is due to have a baby in two months, so when I got to thinking what book I'd like to buy for her child's future library, this was one that came up (the main contender, of course, was Ruth's Bake Shop because that is my favourite children's book of all time). Our copy when I was growing up was a discarded library book we probably bought for a nickel, the plastic dust jacket crinkling and disintegrating in our hands and several pages torn out, all of which added to its charm. For the baby I found a new or almost-new copy, and something about the pristine hardcover and cloth spine warms my heart - I am happy to bring this book to a new generation, even if it doesn't reach the same status in my colleague's family as it had and continues to have in mine.