Title: Chrysanthemum
Author: Kevin Henkes
First published September 16, 1991
32 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780688147327 (ISBN10: 0688147321)
Rating: 4.33
Overview
In this heartwarming tale by Kevin Henkes, author and illustrator of beloved children’s books such as Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse and Kitten’s First Full Moon, young readers will follow the journey of Chrysanthemum as she navigates the ups and downs of elementary school. Chrysanthemum takes pride in her unique and beautiful name, until her classmates begin to tease her for it.
Feeling discouraged and alone, Chrysanthemum must learn to love and accept herself for who she is, with a little help from some unexpected friends. This touching story about self-esteem, acceptance, and the power of friendship is perfect for sharing with children all year round, and supports Common Core State Standards.
About the Author
At the young age of nineteen, Kevin Henkes discovered his passion for creating stories and illustrations. With just a card table and his bedroom as his workspace, he began his journey as an author and illustrator.
Fast forward to today, and he has become a well-known and celebrated creator of both picture books and novels, having received numerous awards and accolades for his work.
Editoral Review
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes is a charming children’s book that tells the story of a little mouse named Chrysanthemum who loves her name until she starts school and is teased by her classmates. First published on September 16, 1991, Henkes is a prolific author and illustrator, having written numerous award-winning children’s books.
The book falls under the picture book genre, with illustrations on every page. The plot begins with Chrysanthemum’s parents choosing her name because they love its uniqueness and beauty.
Chrysanthemum, growing up, also comes to love her name, as it reflects her parents’ love for her. However, things start to change when Chrysanthemum starts school and meets her classmates, who make fun of her name.
Chrysanthemum is devastated, and it’s up to her parents and sympathetic teacher, Mrs. Twinkle, to help her overcome her feelings of inadequacy.
The book’s themes revolve around the importance of self-esteem, bullying, and acceptance. Henkes beautifully illustrates the disastrous effects bullying can have on young children and presents a positive message about understanding, acceptance, and self-love.
The story is set in a school setting, which is a relatable environment for children, making it easier for them to connect with the characters. The book’s strengths lie in the illustrations, character development and the themes explored.
The illustrations are bright, bold and engaging, making it a visually delightful book for children to read. Henkes is a master of character development, and Chrysanthemum’s character is no exception.
From her loving parents to her sympathetic teacher, readers are bound to find a character they can identify with. The book’s message of self-love, acceptance, and anti-bullying is both timely and relevant, making it an important book for children to read.
One of the book’s limitations is its predictability. The story follows a fairly predictable path, and younger children may quickly lose interest if they can predict the ending.
Despite this, Henkes does an excellent job of keeping the story engaging and relatable to young children. In conclusion, Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes is a charming children’s book for young readers, addressing crucial topics such as self-love, acceptance, and anti-bullying, making it a necessary read for all children.
Henkes is an excellent author and illustrator, and the book’s strengths lie in its colorful illustrations, character development, and themes. Although the book may be predictable, it remains engaging and relatable, making it an excellent book for children to read.
We highly recommend the book and give it a rating of 4.5 out of 5.
