Horris Grows Down »

Shari Becker previously held a creative post at Nickelodeon and is the author of Maxwell's Mountain. She lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Valeria Petrone has illustrated numerous picture books, including Luther's Halloween (by Cari Meister) and Plumply, Dumply Pumpkin (by Mary Serfozo), and does editorial illustration for several Italian and UK magazines. She lives in Milan, Italy.

Horris is only four years old, but he already knows all about being grown up. He's such a BIG little boy that his astounded parents decide he should get a job. So every morning he puts on a bow tie and rides his trike to the box factory where he works.

Horris likes his job, but he's not sure he's cut out to be a grown-up. He hates coffee, he can't use sharp knives, and he can barely count past ten. When he sees what most kids do for a living, he wonders if he should just go back to acting his age!

Chicago Tribune

When Horris is born, "The doctors said they'd never seen a baby that large." His parents decide it will just be easier if 4–year–old Horris gets a factory job. After all, he can sort by size and color and count to 10. Sacked on the day higher counting is required, Horris discovers a playground on the way home. To his amazement, the children tell him they receive no "pay" for their job of playing, but Horris decides it's the best anyway. "[T]he hours are great." This wry adult humor is not inaccessible to children.