Henry and Beezus (1952) is a children’s chapter book by Beverly Cleary. In the story, Henry Huggins is determined to buy himself a bicycle and finds inventive ways of making money for his bicycle fund. Henry’s business ideas lead to many humorous misadventures, developing themes on friendship, creative problem-solving, and resourcefulness. Ultimately, Henry hits the jackpot when he wins $50 of beauty coupons at a mall opening and sells them to his friends and family, earning him enough to buy the brand-new bike of his dreams. 

This guide refers to the HarperCollins e-book version.

Plot Summary

In Chapter 1, “Ribsy and the Roast,” Henry Huggins watches enviously as his neighbor Scooter rides his bike up and down the street. When Henry’s dog, Ribsy, steals the neighbor’s barbecue roast, Scooter saves the day by catching up with Ribsy on his bike and grabbing the meat. Henry decides that he has to get a bike and decides to start a bike fund to save up for one. 

In Chapter 2, “Henry Gets Rich,” Henry is thrilled to discover abandoned boxes of bubble gum. He enlists the help of his neighbor Beezus Quimby to bring it all home, deciding to sell it at school. While Henry makes good money at first, the kids quickly tire of the gum, and the teachers ban it from being chewed in class. Dejected, Henry has to come up with a new plan to make money.

In Chapter 3, “The Untraining of Ribsy,” Henry is thrilled to get the chance to substitute for Scooter’s newspaper delivery route and earn a whole dollar for his work. When Ribsy begins to collect the newspapers for fun, Henry has to figure out how to “untrain” him from fetching the paper. Ramona accidentally finds the solution when she fires her water pistol at Ribsy, making him drop the paper.

In Chapter 4, “Henry Parks His Dog,” Henry goes to a bike auction with Beezus and Ramona. When he ties up Ribsy outside a store, he gets a parking ticket on her collar and worries that he will have to use some of his savings to pay the ticket. When a police officer assures him that it is simply a warning to not tie a dog to a parking meter, a relieved Henry enters the auction, ready to buy a bike. 

In Chapter 5, “Beezus Makes a Bid,” Henry is overwhelmed by the crowds and distracted by Ramona’s antics at the auction. He lets Beezus bid on a bike for him and is horrified when she uses all his savings to buy a girl’s bike.

In Chapter 6, “Henry’s Bargain Bike,” Henry begins to try to fix up his bicycle, which has many problems. Beezus feels bad about her poor decision and tries to help. Scooter offers to help Henry fix the bike and suggests that they combine their bikes into a tandem for the parade. Henry insists that he can fix his bike and ride it himself.

In Chapter 7, “The Boy Who Ate Dog Food,” Henry attends the opening night events at Colossal Market, a new mall in the neighborhood. When he wins a prize of $50 in beauty treatment coupons, the neighborhood boys mock him. To change the topic, a humiliated Henry accepts a dare and eats some canned dog food. However, his mood changes when Beezus and his mother buy some beauty coupons from him and suggest that he sell the rest to other ladies. Henry is thrilled when he is able to sell all $50 of coupons, and his father offers him the remaining $10 so that he can buy the brand-new red bike that he wants so much. Henry joyfully rides his new bike home, making sure to ride by his neighbor Scooter’s house to show it off.