Book Review: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, by Kevin Henkes

One Monday morning Lilly came to school especially happy.

She had gone shopping with her Grammy over the weekend.

Lilly had a new pair of movie star sunglasses, complete with glittery diamonds and a chain like Mr. Slinger's.

She had three shiny quarters.

And, best of all, she had a brand new purple plastic purse that played a jaunty tune when it was opened.

Summary:

Lilly is, in a word, exuberant. She loves school and everything in it - including her teacher Mr. Slinger. "Wow," said Lilly. That was just about all she could say. "Wow." She loves Mr. Slinger so much, she pretends to be him at home, making her baby brother Julius be the student. She loves him so much, she wants to be a teacher when she grows up. 

One day, Lilly comes to school "especially happy," eager to show off her new purple plastic purse, her movie star sunglasses, and her jingly quarters. But she chooses the wrong times to try to share, and Mr. Slinger has to take action. So Lilly goes to the Lightbulb Lab and she thinks. First, she gets sad. Then, Lilly gets angry. Then, Lilly gets furious. And then, she makes something that shows exactly how she feels about Mr. Slinger. And that's when things begin to get very...interesting.

For Teachers and Librarians:

Lilly is a sweet girl, an outlandish girl, a "zest for life" kind of girl. But when something doesn't go her way, her full-force exuberance morphs into full-force fury, and she acts before she thinks - a situation even the most well-behaved of students finds herself in at one time or another. But when Lilly realizes how badly she acts, she gets a little help from her parents and herself to make ammends. She also comes to realize her teacher is both understanding and forgiving. And she is so relieved that Mr. Slinger is still that wonderful teacher that she looks at him and just says, "Wow." 

This story shows Lilly run through a wide range of emotions: love, admiration, sadness, anger, fury, remorse - and how she deals with each. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is an excellent way for kids to see not only how their own emotions affect them, but also how their emotions can affect others, and vice versa. It is a sweet story with a subtle message that is not in the least overbearing. Your students will enjoy the story, and maybe see a little bit of themselves. They will see that a little slip-up now and then isn't such a bad thing - and that forgiveness can be right around the corner if you just look for it.

For Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers:

You are often bearing the brunt of your little people's emotions. When they're sweet, they're very sweet. And when they're not - well, you help them through it and you love them anyway. That's what Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is all about: emotions, and how we deal with them. It's also about forgiveness: when we do something that isn't right, we can show how sorry we are. If that remorse is genuine, the forgiveness comes. It is a huge relief for the little guys - I might screw up, and it might be really big, but I can show that I am sorry, and I will still be loved.

For the Kids:

Lilly is so excited about showing her classmates her shiny quarters, her movie star glasses, and her fabulous purple plastic purse. But every time she tries to show them off, her teacher Mr. Slinger tells her it is the wrong time. Then finally, Mr. Slinger does something that makes Lilly furious! So, she chooses to do something about it. She makes something very mean for Mr. Slinger. But on the way home from school that day, she finds something in her purple plastic purse from Mr. Slinger, and then she feels very, very bad about what she did. What did she find in her purse? What did she do that was so mean? Will her teacher forgive her? You'd better go read Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse so you can find out.

Wrapping Up:

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is a sweet story that the little guys will be asking to hear or read over and over again. Lilly is one of those characters that gets into your soul and stays there for a long time to come. And you will find yourself so happy that she's there.

Title: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Author and Illustrator: Kevin Henkes

Pages: 32

Reading Level: Ages 4-8

Publisher and Date: Greenwillow, August 1996

Edition: 1st

Language: English

Published In: United States

Price: $16.99

ISBN-10: 068128971

ISBN-13: 978-0688128975

Author Spotlight: Kevin Henkes

At age 19, Kevin Henkes gathered his life savings and flew from his hometown of Racine, Wisconsin, to New York City, art portfolio in hand, hoping to find a publisher for his work. Intending to stay in the city for a week, he started on a Monday, visiting a list of his favorite children's publishers. By Tuesday morning, he had a contract with Susan Hirschman - founder, publisher and editorial director of Greenwillow Books, and his first choice for a publisher. All Alone, the debut picture book which he both wrote and illustrated, was published by Greenwillow in 1981.

In an interview with Alice Cary in 1996, Mr. Henkes said, "I was excited in a way that maybe I haven't been since in my book life. It is still a very big deal when Susan calls."

Growing up in Racine, Kevin Henkes desperately wanted to be an artist. By his junior year of high school, he decided he also wanted to write. He was raised in a home that was comfortable and safe - a theme reflected often in his picture books.

To date, Mr. Henkes has written and/or illustrated some 36 picture books, board books, and novels - including his "Mouse books," starring the memorable characters Chester, Chrysanthemum, Julius, Lilly, Owen, Sheila Rae, Wemberly, and Wendell.

Sources: 

Kevin Henkes Official Site

Kevin Henkes - Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site

Kevin Henkes Bio

Interview With Kevin Henkes - BookPage.com

Kevin Henkes - Internet School Library Media Center

Book Review/Author Spotlight...

...will be up later (perhaps MUCH later, since the kiddos are due home in a mere hour), but they will be up before the day is out.

Sneak peek - I will be reviewing a picture book from one of my fave authors - Kevin Henkes.

See you later...but hopefully not too late...I DO need my beauty sleep...

Gems from Junk Mail

All of us are going through our lives searching for answers. How to find friends. How to save money. How to find that perfect job. Et cetera. Well, here's the thing: We already have the answers right under our noses! You heard that right. And to find them, we need only look inside...

...our junk email boxes.

Yep. We don't even have to open the darn things to see the treasure trove of solutions they must each contain.

I can see you're skeptical. OK, let's take a look at the titles from my junk email box over just the last week. Then you can judge for yourself.

First, I can have financial success:

• Save Big on Paper! Well. What writer doesn't need that?
• I Found You a New Job! - Hmmm. I didn't even know I was looking for a new one, but this must be just what I (wasn't) looking for.
• Make Your Debt Disappear - 30 Second App. Thirty seconds. Thirty seconds to total financial freedom! Who knew?
• Quit Your Boring Job and Be a Google Millionaire! Wow. Nobody told me my job was boring, and I certainly didn't know Google was handing out boucou cash. I'd better get clickin'.
• Your Underground Cash Invitation. Great! Those underground folks are so much more generous than the ones up top. I never get cash invitations in the land of the light.
• Future Millionaires Wanted. Really? And they sent the email to me? Yes! They must know something I don't. I love omniscience. Especially when it leans in my favor.

Second, I can improve myself physically:

• Enlarge Your (HmmmHmmmm). Oh. Ummm...Yeah...See, I don't have one of those...but I must need to...er...enlarge it.
• Add Inches to Your (HmmmmmHmmmm) GUARANTEED. Well, this is the second one this week. Do they know something I don't? Maybe I should go check...hold on...nope. Don't have one of those. I guess even junk mail gets the wrong address occasionally.
• No Botox Facelift. Facelift? I didn't know my face had fallen...I'll have to go find it and pick it up once we're done here.
• Lose 20 Pounds in 20 Days. Now this one sounds interesting, but I only need to lose five. I wonder if I can pass the loss of the other 15 on to someone else. Let me know if you want 'em...
• Flat Stomach Pill. Imagine! All this time, all I needed was this one measly pill. Click...

And most importantly, I can improve my social status:

• Greetings to You From Mr. Chan. Hey! Already I've got a brand new friend just waiting to be contacted.
• Movie Extras, Actors, Models Needed. Needed! And they sent the invitation to me! Obviously, my reputation precedes me...

See? Was I right, or was I right? Now, what are you waiting for? Go open those junk mail boxes and start improving your life...today.

Book Review: The Tale of Despereaux, by Kate DiCamillo

The world is dark, and light is precious.

Come closer, dear reader.

You must trust me.

I am telling you a story.

Summary: Despereaux's story might never have been told except for the request of the author's friend's son. He asked Kate DiCamillo to write a story about an unlikely hero with "exceptionally large ears." And so, The Tale of Despereaux: being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread was born. 

This is the story of Despereaux, a mouse who is not like the other castle mice. He does not love crumbs, and scurrying, and the taste of library paste. He loves music. And reading stories. And then, he falls in love with the human Princess Pea. This is also the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl who dreams of becoming something that surely she cannot. And, it is also the story of the dungeon rat Roscuro, who lives in the dark but longs for the world above his dreary abode, the one bathed in light. Three different characters. Three different quests. Yet all their paths are destined to cross. To what end? 

For Teachers and Librarians:

First and foremost, your little charges - and the not so little ones - will find themselves completely immersed in this tale of love, and castles, and royalty, and quests, and bravery, and fear, and loyalty, and grief, and learning who one is and where one fits in the world. A side-study of medieval castle life would be an interesting avenue to take along with reading The Tale of Despereaux. Have your students create labeled drawings of what they think the castle Despereaux lives in is like. Or how about completing reports of what the life of a medieval knight was like? Let the kids prepare skits acting out a quest they devise for a young knight in a kingdom of their own imaging. You can discuss themes of being different, of not fitting in, and how to deal with that. Or, since soup figures prominently in this story, how about a fun (and nutritional) aside of creating their own classroom soup? Work together to write up the recipe, then actually make it at school and let them sample their efforts. There are loads of references to dark and light. Perhaps a discussion - or whole-class experiment - on what their feelings are when sitting in a dark classroom with all shades drawn and lights off, as opposed to one with all blinds open and lights on? So many possibilities, but unfortunately not enough space here to list them all. What ideas come to you after reading this book?

For Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers:

Whether you read this one aloud to your sweeties, or whether they read it on their own, The Tale of Despereaux is a book that just has that certain...something. It's a story that grabs you and pulls you in. Despereaux and Miggery Sow and the Princess Pea and Roscuro and all the other characters are so deftly described and shown, that you feel as if you've known them all your life. Your kids will be totally drawn into the story. Be prepared for calls of, "Just one more chapter? Pleeeeeease?" Especially for those kiddos who might feel a bit "out of the loop," a bit "different," or who feel they're not who or what everyone wants them to be, they will see in Despereaux's story what they've been hoping was true: that it is OK to be different. That everyone is here for a reason, and so are they. And that is a good thing.

For the Kids:

Despereaux knows what he likes. He likes books, and music, and he falls in love with the human princess who lives in his castle. But here's the problem: Despereaux is a mouse. And all the other mice make sure he knows he's different. Miggery Sow is a poor human girl who has lived a hard life. Through a happy accident, she finds herself living in the castle, where she believes her life will change in a wonderful way that most others believe is totally not happening. Roscuro is a dungeon rat who wants to live in the light, but can never seem to get there, and he's made fun of for wanting that. All three of these characters don't know it, but their destinies are all twined together. How? You'll have to read The Tale of Despereaux (or get someone to read it to you) and find out!

For Everyone Else:

Children's book it may be, but The Tale of Despereaux is a story that you will not be able to put down. Who among us hasn't felt at one time or another to be the odd one out, a little bit different, or longing for a different life? Careful - you may love this one so much, you'll start seeking out other kid's novels to read. But then, isn't that a good thing? A great story is a great story, no matter who it's written for.

Wrapping Up:

The Tale of Despereaux is the kind of book that can connect to almost any reader of any age, and will have you so engrossed, you'll quite forget where you are for a minute once you're finished reading. You may even find yourself a little sad that it's over. Find your copy today, and you'll see what I mean.

Title: The Tale of Despereaux

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrator: Timothy Basil Ering

Pages: 272

Reading Level: 7-12 years

Publisher and Date: Candlewick Press, 2003

Edition: 1st

Language: English

Published In: United States

Price: $17.99

ISBN-10: 0763617229

ISBN-13: 978-0763617226

Author Spotlight: Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo writes for children and adults, and thinks of herself as a storyteller. Born in Philadelphia, PA, but raised from the time she was five years old in Clermont, Florida, she earned a BA in English from the University of Florida.

Ms DiCamillo began writing when she moved to Minneapolis, MN at age 30, and got a job working in a book warehouse on the children's floor. While there, she met a sales representative from Candlewick Books and submitted a draft of a story she had been working on. That draft would later become Because of Winn Dixie - her first novel for children, published in 2000, which won the Newbery Honor in 2001.

Since then, she has gone on to write several more tales for young readers, including novels, early chapter books, and picture books.

Animals feature prominently in her books. Because of Winn Dixie (2000) centers around a stray dog and how it transforms a young girl who takes him in. The Tiger Rising (2001) has an actual caged tiger which figures prominently in a young boy's life as he struggles with the grief of losing his mother and deals with a chronic skin condition. The Tale of Despereaux (published in 2003 and winner of the Newbery Medal in 2004) is the story of a gallant mouse finding his place in his world. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (published in 2006 and winner of that year's Boston Globe Horn Book Award) chronicles the journey of a china rabbit and how he transforms the lives of the many owners he comes to have. Her Mercy Watson early chapter book series tells the tales of the title character: "a toast loving porcine wonder."

On the topic of writing, Ms DiCamillo had this to say:

"The world, under the microscope of your attention, opens up like a beautiful, strange flower and gives itself back to you in ways you can never imagine. What stories are hiding behind the faces of the people who you walk past everyday? What love? What hopes? What despair?...Writing is seeing. It is paying attention."

Kate DiCamillo currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she is committed to writing "two pages a day, five days a week."

Sources:

Kate DiCamillo Official Site

Kate DiCamillo - Wikipedia

Author Kate DiCamillo - Kidsreads.com

Author Biography: Kate DiCamillo - BookBrowse.com

Kate DiCamillo - Children's Literature Network

All Hail the One-Hit-Wonders! (Or, We Should All Be So Lucky...)

On September 25, we take time to celebrate the One-Hit-Wonders. You know, those talented musical souls who caught the wave of that one mega hit that everybody was either singing or listening to or playing...but then for one reason or another didn't (or couldn't) catch the next wave, and faded into obscurity. Sort of. I mean, if they truly faded away, we wouldn't remember them so fondly, now would we?

Well, let's celebrate these under-celebrated folks, shall we? Come on - humor me? OK, cool! Let's get crackin' with a little 'ol list of a few of those One-Hit-Wonders. (I wonder where they are now? HAAA ha - get it? I wonder... ahh, yeah, well, it makes me giggle, anyway...) And so, on to...

A Partial (and Probably Terribly Subjective) List of One-Hit-Wonders

You will recall, perhaps, Disco Duck? Mmmhmmm. By Rick Dees. But, you know how I remember Rick Dees? Come on, sing it with me: "Rick Dees - and the Weekly Top Fortyyyyyyy!"

Ooh! Oooh! One of my faves when I was a newly minted teenager: Pac Man Fever... Remember? Pac Man Fever! Da-Na--NAH... Do ya know who sang that one? I didn't - but Wikipedia came to my rescue. It was Buckner and Garcia. 

One of my faves as a college chick was No Rain by Blind Melon. "All I can say is that my life is pretty plain. I like watching the puddles gather rain..." I loved that song, and I have the CD. (Yes, CD. I don't have it on my computer yet, but soon...soon.) Does the little bumblebee girl ring a bell for ya?

Here's one that was really fun: Achy Breaky Heart. Though, does Billy Ray Cirus count as a One-Hit-Wonder with the unfathomable success of Hannah Montana and his recent hit Ready, Set, Don't Go?

No One-Hit-Wonder list could be complete without Tainted Love, by Soft Cell. Loved the song...never knew the band's name.

Who Let the Dogs Out? Go ahead, you know you want to...who? Who-who-who-who? It must have been the Baha Men. And I guess they're still out chasing those dogs...

Here is a hit that was a staple at my junior high dances: The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats. Hmmm. Where are their hats, anyway? 

Hee hee hee heee heeeee! I'm putting all these little ditties in your head, and you'll never get them out. Neverrrrrrr! OK, OK, just a few more, and then I'll be done...

M-m-m-m-My Sharona. The Knack sure had a knack for a catchy tune.

Thursday evening happies at The 'Gaff, once upon a time, were not complete without Louie, Louie by The Kingsmen. (There was also Van Morrison's Brown Eyed Girl, and Should I Stay or Should I Go by The Clash, but I don't think those qualify for One-Hit-Wonders.)

Moving on, there's Spirit in the Sky by Norman Greenbaum. Hmmm...perhaps if he'd chosen a more catchy stage name...

And of course, we have to list Funky Town. Lipps Inc. I just love the name, don't you? "Dooo-do-do, Won't you take me to, Dooo-do-do, Funky Towwwwwwn?"

Ice Ice Baby! 'Nuff said. Who doesn't know who sang this?

I loved, loved, loved this one: How Bizarre by OMC.

Here's one: Tubthumping, because I just LOVE the band's name: Chumbawamba, and the song is kickin.' (If you've seen The Evolution of Dance, you'll recognize this tune.)

I can't pass up the chance to list We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister, because I do love the hair bands...

And here's a groovy video of my final one in the list: Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry. Gotta love the funk - another of my fave styles. Get up and groove. How can you not?

Go ahead. Get your funk on...