Penny and Her Marble
Moral dilemma, more emotional depth in cute Penny story.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Penny and Her Marble is the third volume in the Kevin Henkes series that began with Penny and Her Song, featuring an adorable little girl mouse and her warm family. Here Penny faces a moral dilemma after she spots a shiny blue marble on a neighbor's lawn, takes it home, and hides it. Worried that she shouldn't have taken something that wasn't hers, she sets out to return it the next day, and is surprised by her neighbor's response. Emotionally layered and engaging, Penny and Her Marble may spark some interesting discussions about how doing something you're not sure is right can make you feel.
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What's the Story?
Penny takes her doll Rose (introduced in Penny and Her Doll), for a stroll in the stroller and spots a shiny object on Mrs. Goodwin's lawn. It's a pretty blue marble that's "like a piece of the sky." She takes it and stealthily brings it home. She worries that Mrs. Goodwin will miss her marble (even dreams she comes to demand it), and the next day she guiltily puts it back where she found it. As she's leaving, Mrs. Goodwin comes out an, to Penny's surprise, asks, "Oh, Penny, don't you want that pretty blue marble?" She explains that she put it there, hoping someone would find it. She assures Penny it's hers now, and Penny returns hope happy and relieved.
Is It Any Good?
PENNY AND HER MARBLE is a surprisingly complex follow-up to the simpler Penny and Her Doll, and has more of the nuanced emotional punch of the series starter, Penny and Her Song. Author-illustrator Kevin Henkes gets inside the head of a thoughtful little kid with a moral dilemma -- afraid she may have taken something she shouldn't have, and anxious to put things right so she can stop feeling uncomfortable. Her thoughtfulness and sense of responsibility is rewarded, thanks to the kindness and generosity of a neighbor.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Parents can talk about why Penny is troubled after she takes the marble. Have you ever done something you didn't feel good about afterward?
If you read the other books in the Penny series, how do you think this one compares?
Penny seems so much like a regular kid. How does having an animal in the kid role help make the story work? Are books with animal characters more fun than ones with human characters?
Book Details
- Author: Kevin Henkes
- Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Greenwillow Books
- Publication date: February 19, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Award: ALA Best and Notable Books
- Last updated: July 12, 2017
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