Book Review: My Favorite Childrens Books by Kevin Henkes

I think Kevin Henkes has a definite talent in creating stories that are fun, cute, and easy for kids to relate to. He tackles some issues that a lot of kids deal with and it's done is such a fun way. The characters are great!! I wish there were more of these books...


border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> She was a perfect baby, and she had a perfect name. Chrysanthemum. When she was old enough to appreciate it, Chrysanthemum loved her name. And then she started school. "I'm named after my grandmother," said Victoria. "You're named after a flower." Chrysanthemum wilted. Life at school didn't improve. In fact, it got worse. Then the students were introduced to their music teacher, Mrs. Twinkle. Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle. And suddenly, Chrysanthemum blossomed....

My Review: I love Kevin Henkes' books! I don't know if my kids enjoy them as much as I do, but they sit through them with full attention while I'm reading to them. In this one, Chrysanthemum is given a special name, only to start school and have the other kids make fun of it.

A back-to-school favorite. Wemberly worried about spilling her juice, about shrinking in the bathtub, even about snakes in the radiator. She worried morning, noon, and night. "Worry, worry, worry," her family said. "Too much worry." And Wemberly worried about one thing most of all: her first day of school. But when she meets a fellow worrywart in her class, Wemberly realizes that school is too much fun to waste time worrying!

My Review: Wemberly worries about everything!! As the mother of a worrier, it was a fun story to deal with insecurities and irrational fears.

Chester and Wilson had their own way of doing things, and they did everything together. When they cut their sandwiches, it was always diagonally. When they rode their bikes, they always used hand signals. If Chester was hungry, Wilson was too. They were two of a kind, and that's the way it was - until indomitable Lilly, who had her own way of doing things, moved into the neighborhood.

My Review: Chester and Wilson are so much alike and are nearly inseparable. Lilly moves in and wants to be friends with them, but they won't allow it--until she rescues them from some bullies and they find out how much they have in common with her. The way this book is written is so much fun and it has such a good message about befriending others, because you never know who your next best friend will be.

The riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester's Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting -- if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world.Lilly knows her baby brother is nothing but dreadful -- until she claims him for her own. "Henkes displays a deep understanding of sibling rivalry and a child's fragile self-esteem....Lilly is a superb and timely heroine." -- Publishers Weekly. "

My Review: Lilly does NOT like her new baby brother and tries everything she can to get rid of him. Obviously, nothing works. When her cousin says the same types of things about him that Lilly does, she realizes that she does love him. Good story about a new baby in the home, told in a cute way.

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. But when Lilly brings her purple plastic purse and its treasures to school and can't wait until sharing time, Mr. Slinger confiscates her prized possessions. Lilly's fury leads to revenge and then to remorse and she sets out to make amends.

Lilly, the star of Chester's Way and Julius, the Baby of the World, is back. And this time she has her name in the title - something she's wanted all along. If you thought Lilly was funny before, you are in for a treat. So hurry up and start reading. Lilly can't wait for you to find out more about her.

My Review: I love Lilly!! She's such a silly little mouse who is such an individual. She's bossy, yet sweet and definitely one of a kind. I love how impulsive she is and yet quick to feel remorse for her actions and to try and make things right.

Mr. Slinger has big news. He's getting married. Married! Lilly has big plans. She's going to be the flower girl. (Lilly has always wanted to be a flower girl. Even more than a surgeon or a diva or a hairdresser.) But what's the biggest, the best, the most perfect thing of all? You're invited to the wedding -- so start reading!

My Review: Once again, Lilly is back to bringing laughs in her cute, yet demanding, way. I love how she practices, even when it's not a for sure thing. Kevin Henkes has such a good way in bringing laughter and fun to real children's feelings. And the art in these books...soooo cute!!

Sheila Rae is not afraid of anything. She walks backwards with her eyes closed, steps on every crack, growls at stray dogs, and bares her teeth at stray cats. But when Sheila Rae becomes lost on the way home from school, it is her "scaredy cat" sister, Louise, who shows her a thing or two about bravery and sibling love.

My Review: I love how fearless Sheila Rae seems and then realizes that it's okay be scared. It's okay to rely on others and to have fun with your sister.
 
  Owen had a fuzzy yellow blanket. "Fuzzy goes where I go," said Owen. But Mrs. Tweezers disagreed. She thought Owen was too old for a blanket. Owen disagreed. No matter what Mrs. Tweezers came up with, Blanket Fairies or vinegar, Owen had the answer. But when school started, Owen't mother knew just what to do, and everyone -- Owen, Fuzzy, and even Mrs. Tweezers -- was happy.

My Review: This is my all-time favorite book of Kevin Henkes. I love his books!! Owen is about a boy who has a hard time giving up Fuzzy, his security blanket. My youngest son is the exact same way and this book could have been written about him.