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 - Publisher's 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.)
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2Lilly loves everything about schooleven the squeaky chalk and the cafeteria food. But most of all, she loves her teacher, Mr. Slinger, who is a sharp dresser and greets his students with an uncharacteristic "Howdy." The little mouse will do anything for himuntil he refuses to allow her to interrupt lessons to show the class her new movie-star sunglasses, three shiny quarters, and purple plastic purse. Seething with anger, she writes a mean story about him and places it in his book bag at the end of the day. But when she looks in her purse, she discovers that he has written her a kind note and even left her a bag of treats. Filled with remorse, Lilly sets out to make amends. Rich vocabulary and just the right amount of repetition fuse perfectly with the watercolor and black-pen illustrations. With a few deft strokes, Henkes changes Lilly's facial expressions and body language to reveal a full range of emotions. When she realizes how unfair she has been, Lilly shrinks smaller and smaller. When all ends well, she leaps for joy in her familiar red boots right out of the picture's frame. Clever dialogue and other funny details will keep readers looking and laughing. As the cover and end papers attest, Lilly emerges once again a star.Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community-Technical College, CT
From the Publisher
Lilly is one of the great female characters in literature—like Anna Karenina with whiskers or Scarlett O’Hara with paws.” — USA Today
“In all of children’s literature there is just a handful of characters we think of as family—Madeline, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Charlotte come to mind—and when this young generation is old enough to reflect on the ones it loved, Lilly will probably lead the pack.” — New York Times Book Review
"Henkes gets it all just right. All of the bustling, inventive artwork is a pleasure to look at. The whole book, art and text, is lovingly layered to express the mixed emotions that all of us experience.” — Booklist (starred review)
USA Today
Lilly is one of the great female characters in literature—like Anna Karenina with whiskers or Scarlett O’Hara with paws.
Booklist (starred review)
"Henkes gets it all just right. All of the bustling, inventive artwork is a pleasure to look at. The whole book, art and text, is lovingly layered to express the mixed emotions that all of us experience.
New York Times Book Review
In all of children’s literature there is just a handful of characters we think of as family—Madeline, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Charlotte come to mind—and when this young generation is old enough to reflect on the ones it loved, Lilly will probably lead the pack.
USA Today
Lilly is one of the great female characters in literature—like Anna Karenina with whiskers or Scarlett O’Hara with paws.
