Rating: 
Summary: The Book Cracks me Up!
Review: I babysit all of the time so I am always looking for great books to read to the kids. This book I read to myself. It is so funny and I love how Lilly is so ostentatious with her purse. She is exactly like I was at that age and I love the message of not impulsively taking revenge on someone before simmering down. I recommend this book to everyone and I promise you will love it! I even named my Hamster after Lilly.
Rating:
Summary: The Book Cracks me Up!
Review: I babysit all of the time so I am always looking for great books to read to the kids. This book I read to myself. It is so funny and I love how Lilly is so ostentatious with her purse. She is exactly like I was at that age and I love the message of not impulsively taking revenge on someone before simmering down. I recommend this book to everyone and I promise you will love it! I even named my Hamster after Lilly.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Classroom Tool
Review: I believe that Lilly's Plastic Purple Purse by Kevin Henkes is a wonderful book for children to read and a child will gain life lessons from reading this book, along with the other books by Henkes. Lilly's Plastic Purple Purse has a unique way of making Lilly, a mouse, came to life and allows the reader to connect with her.
I believe that this is a great book, and the book also meets the criteria of "what is a good book" in Children's Books in Children's Hands by Charles Temple. This book expands awareness for children, on behaving in the classroom as well as sharing with other students. This book also provides an enjoyable read for children and offers a valuable lesson, but it doesn't overly teach or moralize. This book has a wonderful theme on learning about share time and when to share your favorite things with others; however Henkes does a wonderful job with not overly teaching or moralizing. Also, this book tells the truth. The classroom setting in this book allows for students to relate by being in similar circumstances. Many young children are very eager to share their things with the class, and this book tells the truth about when to share and how to behave during class and also to the teacher. This book by Henkes embodies quality. Although the main character in this book is a mouse, the facial features illustrated and the dialogue allows for the character to become believable. Also, the plot is very convincing and the integrity of the book is satisfying. The plot, language, characters, theme and illustrations all come together to make a satisfying whole. Lilly's Plastic Purple Purse, along with many other books by Henkes, has originality and shows the reader the world from a unique viewpoint. In each of his books, more on this one, he stretches the mind of readers and offers new possibilities for them to think about.
I believe this book is a wonderful tool to have in the classroom for its moral teaching as well as the illustrations. If you enjoy reading this book by Henkes, there are many more out there with other mouse characters that are just as wonderful and appealing to young readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Great lesson in restraint, but hard to read...
Review: I found this book to be very difficult to read aloud again and again. When I taught Kindergarten and preschool before that, I read this book to large and small groups of children and found it tedious and too wordy. For example, why have a line like "Lilly even wanted her own set of deluxe picture encyclopedias." Perhaps some of you may love the dozens of new vocabulary words, but I would rather not have to explain for the umpteenth time what "deluxe," or "diva" means, when the story already has many other new words that are more developmentally appropriate for this target group of readers (i.e., unique, jaunty, considerate, uncooperative...). Anyway, perhaps it is just me being picky, but I didn't care for this story much as a read a-loud. There are many books that I find much more worthwhile. If you have a child who could use a lesson about self-restraint, however, this book may be better than nothing.
Rating:
Summary: Fashionista rodentia
Review: It is my understanding that "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" is the book that really launched Kevin Henkes from mere picture book drudgery to children's book stardom. Though he'd been churning out stories that spoke to kids and their qualms ("Owen", "Chrysanthemum", etc.) Lilly grabbed the world's spotlight and focused it squarely on her cute little shoulders. Though she'd already appeared in two previous Henkesian creations ("Chester's Way" and "Julius, the Baby of the World"), this was Lilly's first foray as a protagonist with her name in the title. As such, the book has been turned into a stage play, been read by millions of small children, and gives spunky kids someone they can identify with and look up to. In short, she's a pip.
Lilly is mightily pleased with her life at the moment. She loves school and she adores her teacher Mr. Slinger. Mr. Slinger (undoubtedly a relation of Miss Twinkle from "Chrysanthemum") is the coolest prof in the world. He wears crazy colored ties, refers to his students as "rodents", provides yummy tasty snacks, and has a penchant for patterned shirts. Lilly is determined to someday be a teacher all thanks to Mr. Slinger. Unfortunately, Lilly's Slinger-love takes a downturn when she brings her new purple plastic purse to class. Noisily displaying it at an inappropriate time, Slinger confiscates the item until the end of the day. In anger, Lilly draws a mean portrait of her teacher and hides it in his book bag. But when the young girl opens her returned purse outside of school, she finds a note reading, "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better", and some yummy snacks are included. Suddenly wracked with guilt, Lilly decides to make up with her teacher and by the end the two have reconciled joyfully.
Now I was lucky enough to see the Minneapolis Children Theater's production of this particular book (combined with some of Lilly's other adventures to pad it out). And though I'm not a weepy gal by nature, I found myself tearing up during the reading of Mr. Slinger's note to Lilly (i.e. "Tomorrow will be better") as well as when I read the picture book. I don't tear up during children's stage productions and I CERTAINLY don't tear up when reading picture books. Yet here I was, all of 26 years of age, and bawling over the succinct sweetness of Slinger's comforting note. How many books have done this for you recently? How many picture books?
The tale is filled to the brim with the Henkes touches a person expects from his work (be sure to notice the Krazy Kat reference in Lilly's dining room). As per usual there is the comfortable family containing loving parents. And best of all, that wonderful way Henkes has of bringing a happy child to life on the page. No adult reading this book would want to be anyone BUT Mr. Slinger and no child reading it wouldn't want to know him. As for Lilly, she walks the fine line between precocious and precious. And wins. If you're a Henkes fan you won't want to miss this delightful star-making turn. If you're not a Henkes fan, do what you can to cure yourself of this ailment and then immediately read and enjoy this book. It's worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Fashionista rodentia
Review: It is my understanding that "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" is the book that really launched Kevin Henkes from mere picture book drudgery to children's book stardom. Certainly he'd been churning out stories that spoke to kids and their qualms ("Owen", "Chrysanthemum", etc.) Lilly grabbed the world's spotlight and focused it squarely on her cute little shoulders. Though she'd already appeared in two previous Henkesian creations ("Chester's Way" and "Julius, the Baby of the World"), this was Lilly's first foray as a protagonist with her name in the title. As such, the book has been turned into a stage play, been read by millions of small children, and gives spunky kids someone they can identify with and look up to. In short, she's a pip.
Lilly is mightily pleased with her life at the moment. She loves school and she adores her teacher Mr. Slinger. Mr. Slinger (undoubtedly a relation of Miss Twinkle from "Chrysanthemum") is the coolest prof in the world. He wears crazy colored ties, refers to his students as "rodents", provides yummy tasty snacks, and has a penchant for patterned shirts. Lilly is determined to someday be a teacher all thanks to Mr. Slinger. Unfortunately, Lilly's Slinger-love takes a downturn when she brings her new purple plastic purse to class. Noisily displaying it at an inappropriate time, Slinger confiscates the item until the end of the day. In anger, Lilly draws a mean portrait of her teacher and hides it in his book bag. But when the young girl opens her returned purse outside of school, she finds a note reading, "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better", and some yummy snacks are included. Suddenly wracked with guilt, Lilly decides to make up with her teacher and by the end the two have reconciled joyfully.
Now I was lucky enough to see the Minneapolis Children Theater's production of this particular book (combined with some of Lilly's other adventures to pad it out). And though I'm not a weepy gal by nature, I found myself tearing up during the reading of Mr. Slinger's note to Lilly (i.e. "Tomorrow will be better") as well as when I read the picture book. I don't tear up during children's stage productions and I CERTAINLY don't tear up when reading picture books. Yet here I was, all of 26 years of age, and bawling over the succinct sweetness of Slinger's comforting note. How many books have done this for you recently? How many picture books?
The tale is filled to the brim with the Henkes touches a person expects from his work (be sure to notice the Krazy Kat reference in Lilly's dining room). As per usual there is the comfortable family containing loving parents. And best of all, that wonderful way Henkes has of bringing a happy child to life on the page. No adult reading this book would want to be anyone BUT Mr. Slinger and no child reading it wouldn't want to know him. As for Lilly, she walks the fine line between precocious and precious. And wins. If you're a Henkes fan you won't want to miss this delightful star-making turn. If you're not a Henkes fan, do what you can to cure yourself of this ailment and then immediately read and enjoy this book. It's worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Aesop would be proud, multi-level morals and fun
Review: Kevin Henkes spins a wonderful tale that appeals to many age groups with the fun story of Lilly and her new purse. Lilly loves her teacher and school, but her normally attentive nature is put to the test when she brings her new purse and accessories to class one day. Woven with lessons about the importance of patience, listening, and responsibility, the story is accompanied by colorful and simple illustrations depicting the young mouse Lilly and other characters in ordinary classroom situations every child can relate to. Your children will love reading this with you; you'll have to read every delightful caption. Something in the story will make adults laugh every time they read it too. Very well rounded and enjoyable work.
Rating:
Summary: A modern classic
Review: Kevin Henkes' "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" has long been a big favorite in our family. Henkes not only does superbly human-like mice for the illustrations, but he has a firm grasp on what it is that makes kids tick: the impulsiveness, the buoyancy, the peevishness, and more. He makes Lilly, our heroine, not only, well, human (even though she's a wee white mouse), but utterly sympathetic despite her faults.Lilly has a fierce admiration for her very cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. Then one fateful day, Lilly shows up with a totally fashionable purple plastic purse (accompanied by "glittery movie star sunglasses with real diamonds"). She, of course, is feeling that she's the height of mouse fashion and glamour, but Mr. Slinger puts a stop to that. He irritates her by taking away the glasses and purse when it's clear that they're impeding Lilly's attention in class. Lilly is furious and takes out her anger on Mr. Slinger in a sneaky way. He meets her anger with patience and understanding, and she is apologetic. All's right with the world by the end of the book. Henkes has a marvelous and intuitive feel for the way little kids think and how they express themselves. That, combined with his completely charming drawings, means that "Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse" is a grand way to spend twenty minutes reading to the nearest mouse-loving kid.
Rating:
Summary: Lilly Learns Her Lesson
Review: Lilly loved school adn her teacher, Mr. Slinger, very much. Because she loved Mr. Slinger so, Lilly wanted to be a teacher, and she always drew Mr. Slinger pretty pictures. One day Lilly came to school with a new pair of sunglasses, three quarters, and a new purple plastic purse that played music when opened. She could not wait until recess to show the class her new things, and so Mr. Slinger took them away until the end of the day. After that Lilly drew an awful picture of Mr. Slinger and hid it in his bookbag. Mr. Slinger returned Lilly's things and she told him she did not want to be a teacher anymore. Mr. Slinger put a note in Lilly's purse, and this made her feel awful about the way she acted. Lilly drew a nice picture, wrote a story, and apologized to Mr. Slinger. Lilly shared her new purse, glasses, and quarters with the class during share time, and Mr. Slinger danced to the music of her purse. Fabulous book! Note to teachers: This is the perfect book for the first day of kindergarten or first grade to express classroom rules. This is how you can teach your students to wait until the appropriate time to share and play. It also teaches manners and accepting responsibility for your actions. I would definetly use this with primary students to show patience.
Rating:
Summary: So many lessons in one fun book!
Review: My 4 year old daughter LOVES this book. Mostly because she can relate to Lily's excitement about her new plastic purse that plays a "jaunty tune", her glittery movie-star sunglasses, and her jingly coins. I love it because it offers so many little lesson to discuss along the way. We talk about how Lily could've handled things better. We talk about why the pictures show her getting smaller and smaller (she feels remorse for her actions). We talk about how telling her parents what she had done was a great decision because they were able to help her correct her mistake. And, we talk about what to expect at school and how to have good manners, respect, etc. Lily is such a loveable character, and so much like my daughter that it's just natural that we both love her and this book so much! A must have for all pre-school/early school aged girls!
|
