This Chrysanthemum book really stuck with Rosie! The whole walk home from school she talked of nothing else. “The little mouse with the long name,” she said. “It’s the name of a flower that’s yellow,” she said. “It has 13-letters!” she said, exasperated, when I didn’t know what book about what mouse she was talking about.
“Chrysanthemum?” I asked.
“That’s it!” she beamed. “How did you know?”
I had no idea, but the 13 letters made it possible to guess. And Amazon Prime made it possible to have the Chrysanthemum book in our home two days later. In between we listened to someone read the book on YouTube. And, now I get it: Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum. That’s Rosie’s favorite part, when the little mouse says her name repeatedly. She thinks it’s funny. I think it’s endearing – the whole thing… the book and how much Rosie loves it.
Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, the book tells the tale of a little mouse that loves her name: Chrysanthemum until she’s teased for it her very first day of school. “You’re named after a flower!” she’d teased, as her self-esteem begins to wilt.
The book explores what it’s like to be teased, to feel down, to find pride, and to bloom. And, well, Rosie whose also named after a flower, just couldn’t get enough.
There’s a reason this picture book has sold more than a million copies and was named a Notable Book for Children by the American Library Association. It’s a simple story that’s beautifully written and whimsically illustrated, and it’ll stay with you long after it’s read.
We made this chrysanthemum printable to extend the fun! You’ll find more ways to use the Chrysanthemum book at home and school on the author’s website and on pages 8-9 of this chrysanthemum PDF.
We hope you love this chrysanthemum book as we much as we do!
USEFUL INFO FOR GROWN UPS:
- Book: Chrysanthemum
- Written/illustrated by: Kevin Henker
- Age Range: 3-6
- Board Book: 32 pages
- Publisher: Mulberry Books; paperback edition (December 30, 2008)
- ISBN-13: 978-0688147327
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