ANNOTATION

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, but when he asks her to wait a while before showing her new purse, she does something for which she is very sorry later.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Lilly the mouse adores her teacher, Mr. Slinger -- until he takes away the purple plastic purse she was proudly showing off to her class. Lilly is so angry she draws a nasty picture of Mr. Slinger and slips it in his bag. At the end of the day, Lilly gets her purse back, and inside is a sympathetic note and a bag of treats. As in all his other books, Henkes shows an incredible sensitivity to children's feelings.

SYNOPSIS

Lilly the mouse adores her teacher Mr. Slinger - until he takes away the purple plastic purse she was proudly showing off to her class. Lilly is so angry she draws a nasty picture of Mr. Slinger and slips it in his bag. At the end of the day, Lilly gets her purse back, and inside is a sympathetic note and a bag of treats. As in all his other books, Henkes shows an incredible sensitivity to children's feelings.

FROM THE CRITICS

Ann Pleshette Murphy

Mr. Henkes manages to convey the depth of Lilly's emotions in illustrations that are pure delight. -- New York Times

Publishers Weekly

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 bagonly 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. (Aug.)

Children's Literature - Susie Wilde

Lilly, heroine of two other Henkes picture books, returns for a staring role in the story of a small girl who adores everything about school, especially her playful teacher, Mr. Slinger. One day, when Mr. Slinger, imposes a limit on Lilly's exuberance, her feelings change completely. Lilly's angry reactions are real and so is her teacher's kind resolution. Once again, Henkes hits the emotions of early education on the mark, and helps children think about their relationships with important adults in their lives.

Children's Literature - Meredith Kiger

Lilly loves everything about school and her teacher, Mr. Slinger. One day Lilly brings her new purple plastic purse to school. She is so excited to show and tell everyone about it that she can't keep quiet. When Mr. Slinger takes the purse from her, Lilly is angry and resentful. During writing lab, Lilly draws an unflattering picture of Mr. Slinger and sneaks it into his book-bag. Mr. Slinger returns Lilly's purse to her at the end of the day. On the way home, Lilly discovers a treat and an encouraging note from Mr. Slinger. She is embarrassed and sorry for her actions. With her mother's understanding and encouragement, Lilly writes a story and draws a flattering picture of Mr. Slinger in hopes of his forgiveness. The ending is joyful and restores Lilly's positive feelings for school life.

Children's Literature - Jan Lieberman

Lilly loves school until her favorite teacher takes away her purple plastic purse. That purse and her glittery sunglasses make her feel like a star, and she lets everyone know it. The charm of this story is in the jaunty artwork and the believability of Lilly mouse as 'every child' who wants to be liked but can be such a "know-it-all" that she makes herself thoroughly disliked. With her purse confiscated, she draws a nasty picture of mean Mr. Slinger, who, at the end of the day, puts a note in her purse that says, "Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better." How embarrassed she feels. It's time for an apology and Lilly does it with style. What a role model is Mr. Slinger! Read all 7 "From The Critics" >