Module 6: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse

Book Summary: Lilly is a studious mouse who loves school, her new teacher, and her purple plastic purse. She is eager to share her favorite things with her classmates and teacher, but her fervent insistence leads to an unexpected outcome. Lilly learns a lesson about patience, appreciation, and forgiveness.

APA Reference of book: Henkes, K. (1996). Lilly’s purple plastic purse. New York, NY: HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Impressions: I can see how Lilly resonates with people of all ages. Her likeability, positive energy, and overall peppy mood brighten the day of everyone she meets. I enjoyed the format of the illustrations: some occupied the entire page, others were in blocks similar to a comic strip, and some where stand-alone pictures surrounded by white space. I liked the repetition of the phrase, “ ‘Wow,’ said [a character]. That was just about all [they] could say. ‘Wow.’ ” (p.4, 6, 25). Even though it was repeated throughout the story, it meant something different each time a character spoke it.

Professional Review: “Lilly the mouse idolizes her teacher Mr. Slinger, but when she comes to school flaunting three jingly quarters, movie-star glasses and a purple plastic purse ""that played a jaunty tune when it was opened,"" she interrupts Mr. Slinger's lessons on ""Types of Cheese"" and words that rhyme with ""mice."" After one too many disruptions, he confiscates the purse until the day's end. Lilly, humiliated, takes revenge by slipping a mean drawing into Mr. Slinger's book bag--only to open her purse and find a conciliatory note from her hero. Caldecott honoree Henkes (Owen) understands Lilly's enthusiasm for her prize possessions, but astutely shows that Lilly goes too far when she acts up in class (""She's in trouble,"" whispers a classmate in a voice-bubble aside). The perfectionistic watercolor-and-ink illustrations, in vignettes and panels, are as sharp as the narration. Henkes communicates Lilly's emotions through her eyes, so that when she goes from ""sad"" to ""furious,"" her eyebrows shift from U-shaped dips to hard slants; he also enlivens his scenes with tiny details, like Mr. Slinger's copy of Stuart Little. The author/artist offers useful, timeless advice for apologizing to a friend and resolving a conflict. A sympathetic and wise treatment. Ages 4-up.”

Reference

[Review of the book Lilly’s purple plastic purse, by K. Henkes]. (1996 August 19). Publisher’s Weekly. Retrieved from http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-688-12897-5.

Library Uses: This book is a little lengthy to be used for a storytime session, but I love the idea of letting kids create their own special purse and/or bag. I would provide small plastic, cellophane bags that the kids would decorate with markers, stickers, glitter, etc. Then, the kids could fill their special purses/bags with little trinkets: bookmarks, small erasers, stickers, chocolate coins, or pencils.