 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
- By Kevin Henkes
- Genre: Picture Book
Common Sense Media says
Lilly gets a lesson in patience.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Lilly draws an unkind picture of her teacher, but she learns her lesson in this tale.
What's the story?
A purple plastic purse. Movie-star sunglasses. Shiny quarters. Kevin Henkes's mouse child is eager to share her new possessions with her classmates, but her unwillingness to wait her turn quickly leads to anger, and remorse. But a supportive teacher shows Lilly the importance of patience. Henkes has a light touch with his lesson, and his main character is a delight.
Is it any good?
Few lessons in patience are so entertaining. Parents find something familiar about the hyperactive child, and readers get a close-up look at Lilly's personality through speech and thought bubbles that supplement the text, highlighting conversations with Mr. Slinger and her baby brother, Julius, as well as providing insight into her thoughts.
What makes Lilly so lovable to parents is her joy for life and her ability to draw young and not-so-young readers in with her limitless enthusiasm. The range of emotions Lilly experiences on one important school day teaches readers about patience and remorse in a most nonjudgmental way. And while two 5-year-old readers giggled at Lilly's unkind drawing of her teacher, they quickly commented, "That's not nice." Both were thrilled at the end, however, when Lilly displayed her nifty purse, quarters, and glasses after waiting for sharing time.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about waiting your turn. Why was it important for Lilly to wait? What was the problem with her sharing everything right away? Why was it better for her to share at sharing time?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
This was a great book!
I heard this story from Mrs. Stavang!
I used to work in the library!
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Kevin Henkes |
| Illustrator: | Kevin Henkes |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Picture Book |
| Publisher: | William Morrow |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1996 |
| Number of pages: | 30 |
| Hardcover price: | $15.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 4 - 7 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
