Chrysanthemum

=__Chrysanthemum__= By: Kevin Henkes

__Review done by__: Amber Lamparelli


 * Read Aloud:**

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 * Bibliographic Data:**
 * Title: __Chrysanthemum__
 * Author: Kevin Henkes
 * Reading Level: Ages 4-9
 * Paperback: 31 Pages
 * Publisher: Greenwillow Books
 * Language: English
 * ISBN: 0-688-14732-1


 * Summary:** The book __Chrysanthemum__ teaches children a variety of lessons about differences and diversity. While Chrysanthemum is growing up her and her parents expresses how perfect her name is. When she starts attending school she gets teased by all her classmates that her name is too long to fit on a name tag and that she is named after a flower. After hearing these remarks from her classmates she starts to think her name is absolutely dreadful. She does not look forward to going to school to listen to her peers torment her about even smelling and looking like a flower. Chrysanthemum begins to have nightmares about her name. After a few days at school she meets Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle, a teacher who is also named after a flower that all the students envy. All Chrysanthemum's friends become jealous and she knows for sure her name is absolutely perfect.


 * Book Review:** I absolutely love this book both now and when I was growing up as a child. It definitely makes children aware that everyone is unique in their own way. The author also introduces some challenging words that can still be understood based off the text. (Ex. Envious, begrudging, discontented, and jaundiced). The illustrations also clearly match up with the text providing the reader with good visuals. There are also parts of the book that are repeated, which is a good technique to use in children's books. (Ex. "After all, it's absolutely perfect). Hopefully after children read this book they will understand to accept everyone in the class and to not tease and make fun of anyone.

Kevin Henkes is a successful children's book illustrator and author known for winning both the Caldecott Medal for illustration and the Newbery Honor for writing. He was born on November 27, 1960 and studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kevin Henkes won the Caldecott Medal, Cladecott Honor, as well as the Newbery Honor. Has written and illustrated over 15 children's books.   Kevin Henkes creates a consistent theme throughout the story, __Chrysanthemum__. Chrysanthemum, as well as her classmates all grow as characters. By the end of the story Chrysanthemum as well as her classmates come to the realization that her name truly is perfect. The overall theme that the book is teaching is acceptance. Some examples of this theme are when Chrysanthemum's classmates say, "Call me Marigold" or "I'm Carnation." The students wanted to be named after a flower just like Chrysanthemum and Mrs. Twinkle. Chrysanthemum also accepted herself when the author wrote, "Chrysanthemum did not //think// her name was absolutely perfect. She //knew// it!"
 * Author Bio:**
 * Literary Element Analysis:**

http://www.kevinhenkes.com/ http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/books/Chrysanthemum-Kevin-Henkes/?isbn13=9780688147327&tctid=100
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