Chrysanthemum Big Book
by Kevin Henkes
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Book Summary Information
Author: Kevin HenkesIllustrator: Kevin Henkes
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-10-02
ISBN: 0061119741
Number of pages: 32
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Book Reviews of Chrysanthemum Big Book
Book Review: Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum, Chrysamthemum!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is "absolutely perfect". Just like Chrysanthemum; and her name, of course. A little mouse gets a flower-y name and she absolutely flourishes under the love of her wise and doting parents. All is right with the world! It's so fun to see the cute little mouse do all the small child things: eating in her highchair, riding her bike, looking at books, sleeping and growing. Each colorful page practically pops with joy! Like the day Chrysanthemum hops off to her first day of school.
But when she gets to school, she finds that the other children have short, one syllable names. Then there is Victoria. Vic-tor-i-a (hah! four syllables, too!) is a bit of a bully, and she makes fun of Chrysanthemum and her name and she gets the other little mouse-children to laugh at her, too. For the first time, the little girl with the big name has self-doubts. After a difficult first day, her parents meet her with open arms and re-assuring words, "Your name is beautiful," said her mother. "And precious and priceless and fascinating and winsome," said her father. The powerful love in this mouse-family is, in my opinion, the best part of the story. And I like the adjectives, too. Like the next day when her mom says, "They're just jealous.", and the Father adds, "And envious and begrudging and discontented and jaudiced." (Reminds me a bit of William Steig.)
When wonderful Mrs. Twinkle, the music teacher, praises Chrysanthemum's name, the other children begin to think differently, and soon everyone wants to be "named after a flower". Chrysanthemum blushed, beamed and bloomed. Her name was perfect, after all! Really she knew it all the time, with all the love and self-assurance she learned at home. But no one enjoys being laughed at, and this little story has good lessons for both those who laugh as well as those who sometimes endure being laughed at.
Wonderful story, delightful pictures--a joy to read, again and again!
Summary of Chrysanthemum Big Book
She was a perfect baby, and she had a perfect name. Chrysanthemum.
Chrysanthemum loved her name?until she started school.
A terrific read-aloud for the classroom and libraries!
Until Chrysanthemum started kindergarten, she believed her parents when they said her name was perfect. But on the first day of school, Chrysanthemum begins to suspect that her name is far less than perfect, especially when her class dissolves into giggles upon hearing her name read aloud. That evening, Chrysanthemum's parents try to piece her self-esteem back together again with comfort food and a night filled "with hugs, kisses, and Parcheesi." But the next day Victoria, a particularly observant and mean-spirited classmate, announces that Chrysanthemum's name takes up 13 letters. "That's half the letters in the alphabet!" she adds. Chrysanthemum wilts. Pretty soon the girls are making playground threats to "pluck" Chrysanthemum and "smell her."
Kevin Henkes has great compassion for the victims of childhood teasing and cruelties--using fresh language, endearing pen-and-ink mouse characters, and realistic dialogue to portray real-life vulnerability. He also has great compassion for parents, offering several adult-humor jokes for anxious mommies and daddies. On the surface, the finale is overly tidy and the coincidences unbelievable. But in the end, what sustains Chrysanthemum, as well as this story, is the steadfast love and support of her family. And because of this, the closure is ultimately convincing and utterly comforting. ALA Notable Book, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, Horn Book Fanfare Honor List. (Ages 4 to 8) --Gail Hudson
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