Module Six: Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Bibliography

Henkes, K. (1996). Lilly's purple plastic purse. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books.

Summary

Lilly the mouse loves everything about school, especially her teacher, Mr. Slinger, who wears cool shirts and a different colored tie for each day of the week. Mr. Slinger's unorthodox teaching methods make school fun, and he inspires Lilly to be a teacher some day. One Monday morning, Lilly comes to school eager to show off her new purple plastic purse. Not only does it hold her new pair of movie star sunglasses and three shiny quarters, but it plays a jaunty tune when opened. Her over-eagerness, however, leads to trouble, and soon Lilly's mood has changed for the worse. Lilly's anger causes her to lash out in a way she later regrets. Is it too late to make amends for her actions and earn Mr. Slinger's forgiveness?

My Impressions

I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful story about Lilly and her infectious love for school, Mr. Slinger, and her purple plastic purse. Henkes' attention to detail in both his text and illustrations is remarkable. Mr. Slinger is introduced to the reader wearing a purple shirt with green swirls, a green tie, sandals, and his famous glasses on a chain around his neck. He holds a globe in one hand while the message on the board reads, "The Global Village: One World!" This image complements Lilly's description of him perfectly. Lilly's emotions are contagious throughout. I found myself smiling with her as she marvels at the "clickety-clickety-click" (p. 2) of her boots down the hallway at school. I also felt her frustration at being reprimanded by Mr. Slinger. Perhaps she is so convincing because Henkes has depicted her expressions so well: Her eyes narrow when she's angry, become wide-eyed and forlorn when apologetic, and disappear altogether with her smile. Readers are sure to fall in love with Lilly, just as I have.

Reviews

Horn Book Magazine

"The Ramona Quimby of picture books, that beguiling mouse-child, Lilly, a major presence in Chester's Way and Julius, the Baby of the World (both Greenwillow), takes center stage in a deliciously funny look at the traumas that can upset even the most dedicated young scholars. "Lilly," proclaims the minimal introduction, "loved school." And the initial pages provide ample justification for her attitude through a series of masterfully executed vignettes celebrating pointy pencils, squeaky chalk, long shiny hallways for running, one's own personal desk, and lunch with fish sticks and chocolate milk every Friday. But most of all, school means Mr. Slinger, whose patterned shirts, brilliant ties, elegant glasses, and pupil-centered methods, particularly the "Lightbulb Lab where great ideas are born," confer instant popularity. Thoroughly enchanted, Lilly wants to be a teacher until one fateful Monday when she brings her weekend shopping treasures to school: sunglasses decorated with diamonds, three shiny quarters, and a purple plastic purse that plays music when opened. Naturally, she can't wait to demonstrate her wonders; naturally, the unflappable Mr. Slinger has to quash her efforts. Not one to be easily thwarted, Lilly plots her revenge until Mr. Slinger's final gesture, a thoughtful note and a packet of tasty snacks, makes her feel miserably small — a process made visible in an emotionally charged, carefully planned sequence. With the help of her parents and the understanding Mr. Slinger, Lilly puts her world to rights in a sensitively crafted, dazzlingly logical conclusion that teaches more about good manners — and good teachers — than any number of manuals. Kevin Henkes just gets better and better with each book. A skilled caricaturist, he conveys variations in mood with economy and charm. His concepts have enough subtle humor to entertain adults without ignoring his intended audience; his texts are precise and imaginative; his illustrations remarkable for expressive lines, delicate hatching, and superb composition. As Lilly and her classmates would say, 'Wow!'"

Teaching Pre K-8

"Lilly's back! You've missed her, haven't you? We met her first in Chester's Way (Greenwillow, 1988, ISBN 0-688-07607-6) and got to know her better in Julius the Baby of the World (Greenwillow, 1995, ISBN 0-688-14388-1).

 

Now, she gets title credit in Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse (Greenwillow, 1996, ISBN 0-688-12897-1). She was created by Kevin Henkes, of course, the wonderful author who zeroes in on the thoughts of the early childhood set.

 

He conveys more emotion in the way his mice/humans move their tails and ears than many authors do in pages covered with words - and Lilly's tails and ears are in constant motion in Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse.

 

It's a wonderful purse that plays music when you open it. Lilly got it, along with glamorous sunglasses, on a shopping trip with her grandmother. She can't wait to share her purse with her class and especially with her absolutely wonderful teacher, Mr. Slinger.

 

She doesn't wait, and that leads to problems with Mr. Slinger who, horror of horrors, takes the purse away from Lilly after asking her several times to wait until later to share her wonders. Down come Lilly's tail, ears and estimation of Mr. Slinger.

 

Her despair turns to anger and up go her tail and ears. Lilly next creates a picture with annotations of Mr. Slinger that will surely curl his tail.

 

The book is a riot. We laugh because of the Lillys in ourselves and in our classrooms. Well done again, Mr. Henkes (and Mr. Slinger)!"

Use in Library

This could be used in a preschool storytime with other books about mice. Children could paste pre-cut shapes made onto construction paper for the mouse's face, body, and ears, and pipe cleaners could be used for whiskers. Children could draw their own eyes and tail.

This could be use in a preschool lesson about colors during which children mix different colors together to make new colors. For example, mixing red and blue together make purple, the color of Lilly's plastic purse.


Hurst, C. (1996). Your holiday bonus. [Review of the book Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse]. Teaching Pre K-8, 27(3), 82.

M.M.B. (1996). Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. [Review of the book Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse]. Horn Book Magazine, 72(5), 576.

Image from http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Lillys-Purple-Plastic-Purse-Kevin-Henkes/?isbn13=9780688128975