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Chrysanthemum (平装)
by Kevin Henkes
| Category:
Story, Ages 4-8, Children's books |
| Market price: ¥ 98.00
MSL price:
¥ 88.00
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| Stock:
In Stock |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
A heart-warming story tells a great story about appreciating our differences as individuals. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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E. R. Bird (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-26 00:00>
If you were to single out the one picture book author that most successfully puts their finger on the pulse of children's hopes and fears, the award for Greatest Long-Distance Therapist would go to none other than Kevin Henkes. I am a huge fan of "Lily's Purple Plastic Purse" and I found a great deal of enjoyment in "Owen" (though I feel it's not his strongest work).
Even "Wemberly Worried" covers a lot of ground by directly confronting the fears of worrywarts everywhere. With "Chrysanthemum", Henkes discusses originality and how being different (even if you're different in name alone) can single you out in both good and bad ways. As a Henkes fan, I consider this book to be amongst his strongest. Chrysanthemum feels that her name is absolutely perfect. She likes how it looks and she likes how it sounds and she likes that it is her name alone. Everything's going great until Chrysanthemum starts school. Suddenly everyone's making fun of her name. She has a class full of Sams and Eves and Victorias. There doesn't seem to be a place for a girl with as wildly original a name as Chrysanthemum. One student in particular, Victoria, makes it her goal to continually ridicule poor little Chrysanthemum day in and day out. Talking about it with her parents helps a little, but the next day the same thing occurs. It seems that Chrysanthemum is doomed to be unhappy until she meets the music teacher Mrs. Twinkle. Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle. And suddenly everything in Chrysanthemum's life is a whole lot better. I liked the moral of this lesson and the way in which Chrysanthemum learns that it's okay to be original. I also liked the epilogue in this tale wherein the leader of Chrysanthemum's tormentors abruptly forgets her lines in the school play and our little heroine is vindicated. Call me shallow, but I always enjoy it when the villains in a piece "get theirs". This is probably indicative of a singular shallowness on my part. Just the same, the fact that the similarly tormented Molly of the children’s book, "Molly's Pilgrim" never receives any vindication has always bothered me. So kudos to Kevin Henkes for punishing the bad guys mildly! Hear hear! There are other less personally petty things I like about this book too. I always love a good Henkesian drawing. I love that the parents in these tales are always caring, available, and attentive to their children's needs. In this book I was especially amused by Chrysanthemum's father running to child psychology texts (like "The Inner Mouse Vol. 1: Childhood Anxiety" and "A Rose By Any Other Name... Understanding Identity") to help his daughter. I loved the extraordinarily cool Mrs. Twinkle with her hugely pregnant stomach, ballet shoes, and tail that twists into a musical staff. I loved it all. If you have a child being teased by fellow classmates for being a little off, this may not be the best book to offer, but it's pretty darn good. Give it a shot and see what you think. If you love Henkes, you won't be disappointed. |
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Kathryn (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-26 00:00>
I purchased 35 copies of Chrysanthemum and passed them out to my faculty at our first meeting. We talked about what we needed to do to make sure all of the 'Chrysanthemums' entrusted to our care blossom. All teachers will read and discuss this book with their class several times during the month of September as we work together to ensure a great start to the new school year! |
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Joyce (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-26 00:00>
We love the little mice of Kevin Henkes, and Chrysanthemum is no exception. This is a really sweet book about being different, and being okay with it. We have a ridicously long last name, so we read this one to our five-year-old girls in case they encounter a similar problem in school. It also provides a good starting point for discussions on why we don't make fun of other children's names, or for any other reason. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-26 00:00>
I think that this story is one that will inspire children. It deals with the elements of peer pressure that all children will face at one point or another and shows how easily views are swayed. This story also does a good job of demonstrating that everyone has ups and downs. I would recommend reading this story to your child or class at the beginning of the school year as a model for inappropriate behavior and ways to handle bullies. I would also recommend other stories by this author because they include good use of voice as well as life situations with which almost all children can relate. |
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Joy Pruitt (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-26 00:00>
What a precious book for little girls! Chrysanthemum experiences what many little girls do when they step outside their comfortable world, yet she is redeemed and her comfort zone is expanded and gives hope for all. I will read this to my baby girl when she is older, her and I both have "different" names. Like Chrysanthemum it may take a while to fully appreciate this blessing, and this book will be a valuable teaching tool. |
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D. Blankenship (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-26 00:00>
What a wonderful, sensitive and timely book. School is hard for kids. It is harder for some than others, but all children go through some sort of ordeal similar to our little heroine mouse. If not, then they are the kids that are dishing out the grief and need the lesson this book teaches even more than the child that is taking all the teasing. Either way, this is a good work, excellent to read to the class as a whole or excellent to read with your child one on one. The illustrations are great and very much go with the text. This is one of my favorites, but more importantly, it seems to be the favorite of many of the children at the school. Recommend this one highly. |
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P. Gkolfinopouloa (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-26 00:00>
All of Kevin Henkes books are absolutely wonderful. My son is 6 years old and Autistic and just love the stories and illustrations. I have also purchased OWEN which is an adorable children’s book! |
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Kevin (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-26 00:00>
This was the first Kevin Henkes book I bought. I got it as a Christmas present for my 4-year-old daughter. To say she loves it would be an understatement! I've become a big fan of Henkes, adding Owen, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Sheila Rae, The Brave, Weekend with Wendell and Wemberly Worries to the collection. I'd also recommend the card game, which I think is called "Lilly's 3 for all" or something like that. Like the books, it draws on characters from across the different titles. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2006-12-26 00:00>
I found this book at a teacher's workshop, and as an adult I related to this book. I have a very unusual name, and it was always hard for other children to understand my name. My parents always reinforced to me how special my name was, and this book does too. It helps any child realize that we are all very special people. |
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1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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