Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum

A First Day of School Book for Kids

Kevin Henkes

HarperCollins · Print & ebook · May 12, 2020

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Who it’s for
A funny, honest school story makes room for teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance.
Themes
Teasing and acceptance, Self-esteem, Kindness toward classmates
Genres
Self-Esteem & Resilience, School Stories, Friendship

About this book

Chrysanthemum is a funny and honest school story about teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance to share all year round. Written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes, the nationally bestselling and celebrated creator of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Owen, and Kitten's First Full Moon, Chrysanthemum is a don't-miss classic, especially for back to school. Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect—until her first day of school. "You're named after a flower!" teases Victoria.

Continue reading

"Let's smell her," says Jo. Chrysanthemum wilts. What will it take to make her blossom again? This popular picture book has sold more than a million copies and was named a Notable Book for Children by the American Library Association. "Perfectly executed in words and illustration, Chrysanthemum exemplifies Henkes's talent for creating true picture stories for young audiences."—The Horn Book This is an ideal break-the-ice book for the first week of school. It get children thinking about and bonding with their own names and the names of everyone else in the class, and it's the perfect vehicle for starting a discussion about treating classmates with tolerance, kindness, and compassion.

Names and Belonging

A funny, honest school story makes room for teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance.

Come here for

  • A playful entry into first-day feelings and the importance of names
  • A gentle way to open conversations about kindness

Expect

  • Schoolyard teasing balanced with humor and warmth
  • A picture-book story about finding confidence and acceptance

Where it sits

Self-Esteem & Resilience50%
Friendship40%
School Stories34%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Mammal Stories
  • Small Pets
  • Pig Stories
  • Art & Architecture
Show all 8 publisher categories
  • Funny Stories
  • School Stories
  • New Experiences
  • Navigating Peer Pressure
Authors
Kevin Henkes
Publisher
HarperCollins
Published
May 12, 2020
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Teasing and acceptance · Self-esteem · Kindness toward classmates
Reading lane
Mammal Stories