Chrysanthemum

Bibliographic Information (APA): Henkes, K. (1991). Chrysanthemum. New York, New York: Greenwillow Books.

Brief Annotation: Chrysanthemum is a little mouse who has grown up loving her name because her parents have always told her it was perfect. When she gets old enough to go to school she soon becomes self- conscious about her name because all of the kids at school tease her about it. Every day she comes home and her parents comfort her and have her feeling better about her name, but then every day at school she is teased about it again and loses confidence. One day when all the students go to music class the teacher is wonderful and everyone wants to earn her praises. Chrysanthemum learns that the music teachers name is also a flower and suddenly all of the other children wish their name was also the name of a flower. Chrysanthemum knows how perfect her name is by the end of the story.

Genre: Kevin Henkes Book
Grade Level: K-3

Readers who will like this: Readers who are self- conscious about something, or are getting teased about something.

Response/Rating (1-4): This book did a very good job of explaining how hurtful teasing can be. I think that the use of bright playful colors helps to show readers how bright Chrysanthemums personality is and that her name or things on the outside have nothing to do with the person on the inside.

One question you would ask before a read aloud: How would you treat a new friend that joined our class?