Try Kevin Henkes With Kids.....

Kevin Henkes Books are tremendous.....

Sheila Rae, the Brave

When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
No lesson is better learned about children through the years of teaching than the one that counts- when you discover a child you maybe counted out or down....and one day they come to see you and you learn that actually they....had the ability to "go the distance" to reach for the "brass ring" to soar. Everything in your sense of your "teacherness", if you care to search yourself for meanings and understandings, gets adjusted then. It's a kind of 'oh no' that I want least of all- realizing I judged. And saw-nothing that mattered.You sometimes get the experience when a child you teach, taught by another simply proves to you that all your preconceptions, or your limits for them, just don't apply in another's dominion. I call this an "eyes open" moment.

This is a book about opening children's eyes to what being brave is, over being bold. To seeing someone fresh. And it's about where brave comes from inside, over bold. How genius of Henkes as always, to distinguish these two states. I think there is a difference between the two, and how very cool of Henkes to make it crystal clear to children that one can be very brave....and still very quiet and self-effaicing.
In my teaching sometimes I see bold mistaken for the bravery that learning takes....and in the long run what I'm saying is the subtlety of teaching is realizing what/who you are working with. The diamonds and treasures you cradle and polish, need your heart listening. This is a book about looking with an eye to understanding. It teaches children that who we are is not necessarily exterior. It is driven internally. I have a daughter Sophia and the character Louise in this story really is Sophia, quiet, calm, shy...and a rock many count out at the start.But don't count her out. Not for a second.

(If you do not believe me then all you need to do is find a good developmental children's ed. psychology book and look up, "self fulfilling prophesy" along with " shy" and you'll see this is a common teacher lesson to be both learned and applied to our work) I'm completely convinced that having bravado and being brave are sort of different. Being aggressive and meeting hard realities are very different but often mistaken for one and the same. So it is we meet Sheila Rae. Within the comfort zone of her life Sheila is strong, feisty, knows all things and has lots of horsey boldness.And of course you like her sparkle. She knows exactly how to denounce superstitions, how to be daring, how to continually get to the edge, how to control situations, dominate assure herself of doing it her way and to continue to think of herself and her needs as primary. She likes that edgy feeling of challenging assumptions, being the one everyone notices, she's "out there". She tops. She's pushing and calling herself fearless, brave ....out there. No limits for her, she's allowed to make her own limits. Until...one day....

And then there's her little sister Louise who doesn't even get named until well into the story. She's just a trembling, trailing following being that isn't named sister...until....the day Sheila Rae decides to challenge the rules and walk home "her way". Maybe we don't even really "know" Louise. Not really. Sheila Rae is pretty much always going to decide rules are not for her. Louise we see in these darling Henkes pictures, trails her sister...and to make a long story short, she watches, she observes, she notices, she thinks about what is going on. And she saves her sister who it would seem can barely integrate this version of sister into her preconceptions.Doesn't care to "get it" much beyond a simple pronouncement of dual bravery.

For what it is worth this story is terrific. I like both female characters, it relates an important thing to children in their socialization skill sets. It is a very effective teaching tool. I stop kids as I read and have them draw on white boards...." draw how you feel about lightening, what your face looks like", "draw what is hidden in your closet", "draw what you most fear", "draw something you are brave about", "draw the mother's face when Sheila Rae decides she is walking home "her new way"-if we could see it", "draw yourself being brave". This stops the story several times and really brings it home for my first graders who are presently in an extended unit about feelings and how we relate to each other. It is a unit about how we treat one another and the effects our actions have, as well as this day thinking about how sometimes a brave person is someone who reached out to save and care for a bold person just because it was the right thing to do.

Julius, the Baby of the World

Hey, That's MY Brother You Are Talking About
If you want a writer that'll guarantee you a successful shared story time at U Pick It, my time to read aloud just after lunch, a teacher cannot go wrong with the kinds of books Henkes gives us. Classics really.

Fresh with the problems of life, Henkes' stories are resolved in ways to bring a wry turn to the corner of your mouth...every time I read one I marvel at his work. Just today in fact. In my classroom right now one student is waiting on her new baby sib and two others are a month or so into their brand spanking new babies. A goodly number are the older sibs to kids from 9 months to four. It's interesting, actually, as I sit and count it up...most are able to remember the coming of the new little baby cakes into their lives, often their bedrooms, and spaces. With some funny observations like, "He eats erasers, we can't get them quick enough." Or, " My Mom said the baby is supposed to cry to make him stronger, this baby is strooooong." Or , "I don't like sharing my room so much." One student in my room, who left and just returned not moving (thank you forces above) is an only child, but she is also such a showman and queen of the world like Lily who she clearly identified with today, I can only imagine if she would be displaced even a tiny bit with a baby. I can only imagine. Pinching would be the least of it...Oh yes, I can read this and see one possible version........not a pretty sight.

Because it is so overstated this is a funny welcome the new baby tale. Lily is so put out she even pinches the baby, says mean things, scares him. (I recall pinching my baby brother to wake him to play with considerable guilt later. And also recall dreading nights when he howled all through it with colic, the story might fit a few of my memories and I suspect is written so that any child will see a few connections), She resents his coming to steal his way into her parents hearts and affection. Lily then has to sit a great deal in her special chair..timed out..where Henkes in illustrating genius shows her holding up signs requesting the bathroom and food. Any time I employ time out with kids the bathroom is the next word spoken. He's got that right.

Lily is queen of the world having nothing of her nemesis in Julius. It would seem through several repetitions of the pattern of her rejection of him that it's hopeless...until, until, until her cousin Garland speaks in kind......and then....in that moment of familial stick togetherness something shifts and she finds a way to stick up for family and become attached to her brother, her Julius. It's such a great moment....and my class sat in utter silence. Absorbed by that.

No I'm not one to read kids lots of "afraid of the dark" books until you introduce the concept and an otherwise comfy kid starts to develop the fears you kind of nudged into place. Nor am I sure reading this to kids that are making a fine translation to a new sibling...why look for trouble or read it before hand unless you are wanting to talk about the upcoming POSSIBLE realities in general. So exaggerated they KNOW it won't be THIS BAD. That might feel better. But know your child and the need. Don't introduce the jealousy. . It should be talked with the child, but I talked another way actually..... I read the book though because my student Ramona, who just found out about her upcoming sibling, clearly is very apprehensive. And one of my students is rather ignoring her baby (according to momma) and Lily tries this in her program of waiting her parents out in the hopes Julius will just be gone. But the Baby of the World is definitely here to stay. I love how her parents explain that they must love him up to create this being that can be as special as she is...I love how patiently they allow her to bond. I might have been inclined to fuss, to have cracked...or ordered some love "right now dammit." But I never had this issue with the kids really. My kids were ducks to water about sibs. I always felt that this might be a sign of just how boring I really can be...but it's just a suggestion.

I had a student come to see me a week ago, excellent brother. He was in my 6th three years ago. I now have the sister he took care of then looking bleary eyed many a day. And now his mommma just had her new baby. He came to give me a hug, I love that kid, and say...you are right. These babies are just wonderful. But a ton of work. He managed to promise to wait to bring me one of his own until 35. What I'll be 95? I always like it when 13 to 15 year old brothers get a new baby, preferably a girl, just perfect timing...cause it is lots to do.

So the story is resolved and Lily has her Baby of the World. I recommend the book with a nice time for talking and sharing. Along with the arrival of their brother my two girls enjoyed this story. And, of course, Max and Ruby tales by wells. But what they needed most of course was to know that their Dad and Mom were solid in their love, they were still everything under the sun and moon and that I was going to love them, each one more than anything, forever and always as the gifts they really are. With a few promises I kept every week to do things "just us big girls".

Lilly's Big Day

Don't Mess With Fate OR Freewill
Tonight my daughter and I were out looking for a perfect gift for a party tomorrow (gift for child required) and found this book and a doll to match sitting front and center and maybe a bit sideways at the local booksellers shop.

So we opened it up to see what adventure Miss Lilly was finding herself in this time. I'm a 1st grade teacher and Lilly and her purple purse have been very important parts of my shared readings for ...ummm...more years than I think Lilly has. My daughter Syl even had a purple purse just to act out her precious purple purse story and now with her at 17 we look at these books with longing...

Lilly's a mouse for me, living life with everything she's got, not afraid of feeling and more than a little mystified by other's inability to walk in her shoes...

Henkes always takes a good look at children with their very real life...and spins a story that just has it all. And...it has everything I don't have presently in my NCLB afflicted life in an Under performing school forced into proscribed scripted curriculum teaching so presently devoid of story...I'm Sarah "one note" on this but when you read a book like this one you realize how much a book can bring to a classroom and children.

Lilly is so charming and here she is completely with her whole soul determined to be the flower girl at her teacher's wedding, but relegated by her very favorite teacher, to watch another get the honors. Just looking at the note she writes alone to convince her teacher of her worthiness is so wonderful,it's an appeal that just should have done the trick. Henkes must someday come to my Room 10 and meet my student Gabby la la . They are somehow related, Lilly and Gab. I, too, got a note mine on Friday, "Why I am the best person to be the Class Pezidents" a new position she decided to open.

There are from time to time children who are just so invigorated, alive, so vestily in this life, so carpe diem you gotta just stand away and say..."May I assist you Madame Pezident?". Such is Lilly who doesn't immediately get the flower girl position but does through the storyline save the day....and in the end doesn't it always fall to the Lilly's of the world to sweep in graciously(even when doing so after having been second placed right in front of everyone when they knew who was supposed to be in the position of flower girl) and put it all to rights and give life a kind of warmth and zest that makes us realize that sometimes you have to live and love, they come into your life and turn it all upsideover as my Gabby La La says.

My student listens with great quiet to Lilly stories and always dramatically raises her arms and says at the end, "Oh...it's so cuuttee..that's a good story teacher." Dramatic falling to the floor in giggling ball. If read with charm this story of the wedding of Lilly's teacher is guaranteed to be a hit with all children.
The book did not need another endorsement here but after reading it and picking it up tonight for our children's gift exchange I have to say it'll be read on my apple carpet in the classroom Monday with lots of fun because I'm taking in a basket of flower petals left over from a bouquet of roses from my anniversary which is rapidly fading and I saved , perfect for reenactment purposes. Enjoy a really wonderful read and you must, must get it with the Lilly doll." Too cutes" from Gab..And may I say...you only live once, so with Lilly, its wonderful to feel with every cell you have heads to toes...throw a few petals all over and practice the day you'll be called forth to walk down your aisle.

A Weekend with Wendell

Friends
I like Kevin Henkes, as a 1st grade teacher I think he's channeling every child I ever had an affinity for, maybe on a scary level. This was my first Henkes book and after spending the weekend with my favorite girlfriend, and someone so verrrrrryyyyy different I appreciate the genius of Henkes all the more.
I originally bought this because my daughter is named Sophie and the main character is a Sophie, but truthfully that character had so many similarities to my then shy and self-effacing daughter, it was cool. It was a great fit at that time and having re-read it to my class 15 years later it still seems to be twinklingly brilliant.

This Sophie has a weekend visitor , Wendell. She's not exactly thrilled and his ability to be sensitive to her feelings and her perspectives fits in the teacup with room for the tea. He takes over the play, dictates the games with treasures like assigning her to be the dog when playing house or the desk clerk playing hospital , or my favorite the "sweet roll" playing bakery. To all of these play situations Wendell is meeting his needs big time while happily forgetting that the sweet roll may want to do things a bit differently, I don't think he understands at all his Sophie.But he does want her to be his friend. Indeed I'm not sure Sophie ever achieves denting that truth of Wendell here-he's not entering her domain exactly tho he is literally taking her space over-he's entirely in his world-no matter the space.
"Isn't that fun?" Wendell happily asks as his need is met.... And there is Sophie..."Sophie didn't say anything."

We do flash in and out to the parents who reassure Sophie it's going to be okay and the take over will end "Soon". It's a funny thing but there is something universal in that usurping visitor tale, something children understand very well. Wendall is so enthusiastic as he invades her covers, bounces up in the morning, thinks of all the activities and steers her around until in one simple situation she takes over, asserts herself in a game with a hose and finds a way to control a little tiny piece of the play, just there at the end of the visit. The book ends so beautifully, it ends with acceptance on Sophie's part.

I suppose I can't spoil it entirely but Wendell leaves on a touching "note". And Sophie is hooked on the thought of a future encounter. What I like about this in teaching is it characterizes the processes we go through in learning one another, in being guarded and only in small pieces able to find harmonies one to another. But having become involved, it was very sweet to have Henkes leave us with the story told in such a way to see the promise of this new friendship and the adjustments that begin to be made to accommodate one another on two different levels by both parties. It acknowledges that Wendell doesn't ever "get" it, he just grows on her...and that is really art...it's art... for what it understands and captures. As the book says, "Soon Wendell and Sophie didn't care who was the fire chief or who was the burning building." No of course not, they were enjoying each other -too much -to care anymore about the control issue, so core central to a self trying to initiate the "rules"(to protect against rejection) of inter-relating with another. They got through the first hurdle. She found a footing and decided to risk his inability to really process her...because he's fun and she sees he does care. She's like this.It's enough.

I like the tale. I always ask kids where they think this went in "next tales" and inevitably those answers reveal a great deal about my kids...answers ranging from "They get married" to "The parents never let them play again"..to "They write letters everyday" ..to the most common..."They see each other once in a very great while and remember that fun day" . This I think rather illustrates what happens in child friendships dependent on parental actions and chance...it just goes along. This is a very nice tale to use with a class before a weekend especially if you hear of someone coming over maybe rather dreaded by a child-say a visitor coming along with parent friend.I just finished spending two days with a girlfriend who is dynamic, energetic, Wendell-Like with games and parts for me to play and lots of drama and excitement. It's a perfect distraction from life. We had a good time and on parting last night I was feeling that intense kind of anguish over separation...Henkes can find the core of daily life and really pull us through a well told story.
Great story, simple, true.

Chrysanthemum

I am a teacher, now in 1st grade again, (23 years in every grade) and I love to create in my room a program called "The Guest Reader". This works on many levels for me, I get to not read for a change of pace, I can observe the children listening (which is how I begin to see better their receptive language and at times comprehension), I see another adult approach them free of my biases, you get a different person animating the story so voicing it is a new experience, children like making new friends when outsiders become involved in the cooperative spirit of working in your room. So there are bunches of reasons to encourage literacy through Guest Readers.
A number of years ago I had a great Principal. For a teacher those two words (great and Principal) often are not found together in the same sentence. She began weekly, then bi-monthly, visits into my room to share a story. Sometimes I handed one to her, once she made and illustrated one herself(see how cool Mrs. Gandara is -way cool) and once she brought this Henkes' book called Chrysanthemum. Ever since then I have read it at years' beginning and wished I had her back to read it. It's a terrific story to read aloud>I'd suggest it for your child's class when you visit, especially if you have a little girl. In the story a little character named wonderfully Chrysanthemum has a special, family chosen and well-loved name and goes to school filled with home love and the joy of who she is ...there(in school) she meets with children who asked her essentially "What kind of name is that?" Since I watch this happen every year , year after year I like to hit it early on and hit it hard both to arm the kids and issue out my little warning to the group...let's grow a few gears for each other.Watch what you say and how you say it, conversely don't listen for "trouble". I love names and the history of why a family chose the name the child carries. It's such a gift to the child.So again, perfect book choice. Chrysanthemum has to essentially re-gather herself and is aided really in being able to get back to the place where she is comfortable once again with her name,(though in a slightly different way)and she regains trust with her class and learns from the social interaction. Among other things she learns is that people have a certain power over you-they can reject you, and she also learns a few skills to cope without turning into someone who goes and repeats that lesson to another. (In the teacher world I call that food chaining-passing along the bad lessons to the next smaller victim). When Mrs. Gandara read it to my class I think we all sat enthralled by how she pronounced Chrysanthemum, it just rolled around in her mouth like the loveliest name ever given, leave it to Henkes to find a perfect name for the point of this story on acceptance and learning to strengthen your belief in yourself. I use this a multiplicity of ways with the class, for discussion and for talking about socialization for sure. Henkes always has a kind of depth going on within his story world. I know the stories will resolve, but not always quite the way I might expect. Usually after a longer time spent on this story the class over the next weeks wants to listen to more Henkes. So I read Julius the Baby of the World, my favorite, and about Wendall and of course, all about Lilly. It's worth getting them all for a primary book box or for presents to children that are younger for sure. Henkes is a winner, don't hesitate.

My favorite line in this book , showing some of my juvenility, is when Chrysanthemum is insulted by a girl who holds power in the social dynamic and is undoubtedly feeling that power under some assault by Chrysanthemum's arrival-when she announces the name has...and can you get this with the right tone kind of nasal..."thirteen letters. What kind of name has thirteen letters? " You see it everyday in classes and its wonderful to have an author with a gentle ear for it. Not to diverge again but I just went to a workshop where we were "trained" in Cooperative Learning in the Kagan model, a kind of anti bird walk- all teacher designed allowable communication in which he opened with "People are social animals". Since they really are, it's very important to construct socialization into settings where you can think about it with the kids. Not as he did controlling the form and allow-ability of all thought, talk, time, seating, motions, everything- so nothing escapes to distract from your canned content, but it happens you can construct with children how they relate by sharing stories a bit removed from them and talking back about feelings, their reasons why they think that happened, what would they do. You teach ...you know..empathy. And you teach a relationship to control, literacy, problem solving. Mrs. Gandara read to kids about relating and she had the warmest, most authentic, connected relationship I ever saw to a group of 800 kids. They grew to respect her, go to her, listen to her and care about her. She built community in South Oxnard at Hathaway School and used in part this text to do it. I'm in heaven actually as her daughter is returning to teach next to me (5 or so years later) so I can get her to come in again and share lesson from Chrysanthemum and the best name ever.

If you invest in Henkes, and take time to teach his works the gift to students is ten-fold.