Sofia Martinez
Kevin Henkes is the author of the popular children's book 'Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse'. The book, published in 1996, is about a young mouse named Lilly who loves her teacher, Mr. Slinger, and her purple plastic purse, which she brings to school one day. When Mr. Slinger takes away her prized possession for disrupting the class, Lilly's fury leads her to seek revenge. However, she eventually realizes her mistake and tries to make amends, learning about the importance of apologizing and forgiveness. The book received critical acclaim and was adapted for the stage, highlighting its impact on children's literature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author | Kevin Henkes |
| Illustrator | Kevin Henkes |
| Genre | Children's literature, Picture book |
| Main Character | Lilly |
| Other Characters | Mr. Slinger, Julius |
| Themes | Authority, Relationships, Forgiveness |
| Publication Year | 1996 |
| Publisher | Greenwillow Books, HarperCollins |
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What You'll Learn
Kevin Henkes, the author
Kevin Henkes is the author and illustrator of around fifty critically acclaimed and award-winning picture books, early readers, and novels. He is known for creating beloved characters, including Lilly, a mouse who loves everything, from school and dressing up to her baby brother, Julius.
Henkes' first book, 'All Alone', was published in 1981, and since then, he has written and illustrated numerous titles, including 'Chrysanthemum', 'Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse', and 'The Year of Billy Miller', for which he received a Newbery Honor. His work often features mouse characters, such as Lilly and his most recent creation, Penny, introduced in 'Penny and Her Song' in 2012.
Henkes has received much acclaim for his contributions to children's literature. He won the Caldecott Medal in 2005 for 'Kitten's First Full Moon', which was inducted into the Picture Book Hall of Fame by the American Booksellers Association in 2017. In 2007, he delivered the Arbuthnot Honor Lecture, an honour bestowed upon distinguished individuals in the field of children's literature. Henkes was also awarded the Children's Literature Legacy Award in 2020, recognising his significant and lasting impact on children's literature.
Beyond his writing, Henkes has been praised for his illustrations, receiving recognition from the Children's Literature Association with the Phoenix Picture Book Award in 2013 for 'Owen'. His books have been included on numerous lists of the best children's books of the year by The Horn Book Magazine and Kirkus Reviews. Bruce Handy, in a New York Times Book Review, described Henkes as a "genius".
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Lilly's love for school
Lilly loves school. She loves everything about it, from the squeaky chalk and the cafeteria food to dressing up and show-and-tell. She even loves her baby brother, Julius, even though he's stinky! But most of all, Lilly loves her teacher, Mr. Slinger. Mr. Slinger is a sharp dresser, and he greets his students with a cheerful "Howdy." Lilly wants to be just like him when she grows up.
One day, Lilly's grandmother gives her a very special gift: a purple plastic purse, complete with movie star sunglasses and three shiny quarters. Lilly is thrilled with her new possessions and can't wait to show them off to her friends at school. But when she can't wait until sharing time, Mr. Slinger has to take away her treasures. Lilly is furious and feels that Mr. Slinger is being mean. She even writes a mean story about him and puts it in his bag.
However, when Lilly looks in her purse later, she finds a kind note and some treats from Mr. Slinger. She realizes that she owes him an apology. With the help of her parents, Lilly reconciles with her teacher, learning an important lesson about authority, forgiveness, and making amends.
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Her teacher, Mr. Slinger
Mr. Slinger is Lilly's teacher at school. Lilly loves school and everything in it, especially Mr. Slinger, whom she considers her favourite teacher. She even aspires to be a teacher herself one day because of him. Mr. Slinger is described as an extraordinary and amazing teacher who wears a different tie every day, arranges desks in a semicircle, and brings tasty snacks for his class.
Lilly's love for Mr. Slinger is tested when she brings her new purple plastic purse to school, along with movie star sunglasses and three jingly quarters, and can't wait until sharing time to show them off. Mr. Slinger, in an attempt to maintain classroom discipline, has to confiscate her possessions. This incident causes Lilly to act out in fury, drawing a mean picture of Mr. Slinger and putting it in his bag.
However, Mr. Slinger handles the situation with kindness. He returns Lilly's belongings with a kind note and snacks, leading Lilly to realise she owes him an apology. This episode opens up a discussion about authority and consent in the classroom. Mr. Slinger's actions and Lilly's response provide an opportunity to explore the complexities of their teacher-student relationship and the importance of forgiveness and repairing relationships.
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The confiscation of the purse
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, is a children's book about a young mouse named Lilly who loves everything about school, especially her teacher, Mr. Slinger. One day, Lilly brings her new purple plastic purse to school, along with some shiny quarters and movie star sunglasses. She is excited to show off her treasures and can't wait until sharing time. However, her possessions create a distraction in the classroom, interrupting Mr. Slinger's lessons.
As a reasonable authority figure, Mr. Slinger initially tries to be patient with Lilly's disruptions. But when she continues to play with her musical purse in class, he is forced to intervene and confiscate her belongings. This action leads to a significant shift in Lilly's emotions, as she goes from being excited and eager to share to feeling furious and vengeful. In her anger, Lilly retaliates by drawing a mean picture of Mr. Slinger and putting it in his bag.
At the end of the day, Mr. Slinger returns Lilly's possessions to her, along with a kind note and snacks. This gesture leads Lilly to reflect on her actions and realize the importance of apologizing when she is in the wrong. She feels remorse for her earlier behaviour and sets out to make amends with her teacher. Through this experience, Lilly learns about the impact of her actions on others and the value of forgiveness.
The confiscation of the purple plastic purse is a central event in the story, driving the narrative arc and character development. It showcases Lilly's enthusiasm, impulsivity, and strong emotions while also highlighting Mr. Slinger's patience, kindness, and commitment to maintaining a positive classroom environment. By navigating this challenging situation, Lilly gains a deeper understanding of authority, responsibility, and the importance of repairing relationships.
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Lilly's emotions and apology
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, written by Kevin Henkes, is a story that explores the emotions of its titular character, Lilly, an anthropomorphic mouse, and her journey from anger to guilt, culminating in an apology.
Lilly is a student who loves her teacher, Mr. Slinger, and everything about school. However, her enthusiasm for showing off her new purple plastic purse and movie star sunglasses leads to conflict. Despite Mr. Slinger's request to wait until sharing time, Lilly's excitement gets the better of her, and she disrupts the class. As a result, Mr. Slinger confiscates her prized possessions, marking a turning point in their relationship.
Lilly's initial reaction to having her belongings taken away is fury. She feels betrayed by her beloved teacher, and this strong emotion drives her to act rashly. She retaliates by drawing a mean picture of Mr. Slinger, expressing her anger and frustration. However, it is important to note that Lilly's emotions are complex and change over time.
As the story progresses, Lilly's anger begins to subside, and she starts to feel guilty about her actions. This shift in emotions occurs when Mr. Slinger returns her belongings along with a kind note and snacks. Lilly's guilt and remorse lead her to reflect on her behaviour. She puts herself in the "`uncooperative chair`" and takes it upon herself to rectify the situation.
Lilly's emotions drive the narrative and ultimately lead her to apologize to Mr. Slinger. She draws a new picture, writes a story, and expresses her sorrow for her previous actions. Her apology repairs their relationship, and they move forward with mutual understanding and forgiveness.
The story emphasizes the importance of considering others' feelings, apologizing when wrong, and forgiving others when they apologize. Lilly's emotional journey serves as a valuable lesson for young readers, teaching them about managing strong emotions and navigating interpersonal conflicts.
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Frequently asked questions
Kevin Henkes wrote and illustrated 'Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse'.
Lilly loves school and her teacher, Mr. Slinger. One day, she brings her purple plastic purse to school and can't wait until sharing time to show it off, so Mr. Slinger takes it away. Lilly gets angry and seeks revenge by drawing a mean picture of him. When Mr. Slinger returns her belongings with a kind note and snacks, Lilly realizes she owes him an apology.
'Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse' emphasizes the importance of being considerate, apologizing when in the wrong, and forgiving others when they apologize. It also opens up a discussion about the role, exercise, and legitimacy of authority in the classroom and beyond.
