Finders Keepers?

When I'm out with Xena hiking in the woods, walking along the lake shore or strolling down the road in a state park, I'm always looking; scanning my natural surroundings for possible photographic opportunities.  It's like a continuous treasure hunt.  Maybe I'll spy a Petoskey stone, stones in the shape of a heart, leaves of unusual shape or color, a dropped bird feather, beach glass or, if fortunate, the sighting of some animal caught unaware by our presence.

Sometimes, when you least expect it, life will cast an unexpected discovery in your line of sight or along your path.  Depending on what it is, you may be content to stop and only look or the urge to make it your own will rule the day.  Kevin Henkes introduced us to a joyful mouse girl in Penny and Her Song (Greenwillow Books, February 2012) (reviewed here) followed by Penny and Her Doll (Greenwillow Books, August 2012).  In the newest title, Penny and Her Marble (Greenwillow Books, February, 2013) the happy-go-lucky, lovable character has mixed feelings about a choice she makes.


Penny was pushing her doll, Rose,
in her stroller.
They went back and forth
on the front sidewalk.

Per her Mama's request, Penny can only walk as far as Mrs. Goodwin's house.  As she goes to and fro her imagination is in full swing; they glance at the tall buildings of a city, hope they don't get lost in a deeply wooded forest and consider objects below as they float among the clouds in an airplane. Right before one of her turnarounds Penny spies something round and blue on Mrs. Goodwin's lawn.  The old-as-time should I or shouldn't I debate begins and ends.

Back home in her bedroom Penny marvels at the shape and speed of her newest treasure.  To her the color makes this marble seem like a piece of the sky.  In fact, going to her bedroom window, she sees the two are a perfect match.

Oh, oh....she also sees Mrs. Goodwin standing in her yard in the same spot Penny found the marble.  Guilt consumes her.  It takes away her joy in baking cookies, eating dinner and even falling asleep.  Before breakfast the next morning, Penny announces she and Rose would like to take a walk.

We readers know where they're going and why.  Penny and her companion, pushed in her baby-doll stroller, walk into an early morning surprise.  On the way home they're bouncing on the wavy waters of the sea in a boat; a sea the same color as the marble in her hand.


In this third early reader title, Kevin Henkes is asking us to expand our reading abilities; following Penny, watching and learning as her personality shapes and grows.  To each subsequent book Henkes has included another chapter; the first has two, the second has three and this volume has four chapters. Unlike the first two books, Penny and Her Marble extends into two days' activities; we see a change of clothing.

Henkes use of language, word choice and sentence structure, is exactly what this reading audience needs. His ability to convey precise emotional moments with spare text is gifted.  We readers feel empathy for Penny and continue to appreciate the portrayal of the family unit through the caring dialogue of Mama and Papa.


The pleasing pastel color palette used in the two previous books is continued in this title although with a shift to blues and greens on the jacket and cover.  The solid color, sky blue, on the opening and closing endpapers matches the chapter enumerations as the endpaper colors did in the others.  Beneath the title (on the title page) a small square illustration features the place, activity, where Penny's story will unfold.   In this and each of the other books the illustration on the back cover is repeated with the dedication.  There is a symmetry and attention to detail in these books which exudes warmth and comfort.

Full color illustrations are rendered in watercolor paints and black pen ranging in size throughout.  At times Henkes will provide a single black line frame around his pictures; other times a partial frame at the bottom or none at all.  His visual layouts and size contribute to the form and flow of the storyline perfectly.

Having greatly enjoyed Penny and Her Song and Penny and Her Doll, it was hard for me to believe this title could be better but Penny and Her Marble written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes is the best one yet.  This is sure to be a storytime favorite and will be popular with beginning readers.  The link embedded in Kevin Henkes name will take you to his official website.

To view all of the videos created about and by Kevin Henkes follow this link to TeachingBooks.net.  Mr. John Schumacher teacher librarian and blogger at Watch. Connect. Read. hosted an author visit with Mr. Henkes.  It is highlighted along with pictures and videos here.  Follow this link to the publisher website to browse inside Penny and Her Marble.

Janitor Jitters

There is nothing better than sharing a fit of giggles with children.  When a particular line in a story strikes them (and you) as funny, their peals of laughter bursting forth are riches beyond measure.  Other times when an illustration extends, enhances or adds something new to the narrative, there will be a pin-drop-silent pause, glances will be exchanged, then like a stadium wave it starts and soon the room is filled with the sounds of hilarity.

Twelve years ago I purchased an audio CD, The Battle of the Mad Scientists and other tales of survival, filled with stories written and told by Bill Harley complete with musical interludes.  Two titles, The Great Sled Race and Mrs. Ammons And The Boys' Room, are perennial favorites.  Harley has a knack for portraying life exactly the way it is for guys and gals, getting to the heart of their feelings, their laughter, tears and fears.

It's this gift of knowing, whether it's their family or friends, the neighborhood nuances or school days, which brings readers into his stories immediately.  His most recent picture book, Lost and Found (Peachtree Publishers), illustrated by Adam Gustavson, is about the location of Lost and Found in a boy's school, a place avoided at all costs by everyone.  Childhood fears, real or imagined, are hard to let go. (How long was it before you let your arms or legs hang over the side of the bed?)


"Where's your hat?" Mom asked.
"I don't know," I said.

Justin's hat isn't just any hat.  It was handmade by his Grandmother who is coming for a visit on the weekend.  It's a favorite of his; blue and white with stars of orange all around.  It no longer has the red ball on top.

His Mom wants him to look in Lost and Found the minute he gets to school but that's not going to happen.  Students would rather never recover their belongings than go to Lost and Found.  With the help of friends Justin combs the playground, in his desk, under the hamster cage and behind the bookcase in his classroom.  His hat has vanished.

Justin's pals gather around him the next day to brainstorm possibilities but there's only one thing left to do, go to Lost and Found.  Going to Lost and Found means walking down the scary hall near the cafeteria and worst of all, talking to old, grumpy Mr. Rumkowsky, the janitor.  With good luck wishes ringing in his ears, he heads after lunch to what he believes is his doom.

A knock, an invitation to enter and a box so big, Justin needs a ladder to get to the top.  No hat is found on the first day, but items belonging to his friends are.  He's only skimmed the surface.  He'll have to go back.  His bravery lands him other requests for items to locate.

It's not nearly as frightening when he returns the next day.  In fact Mr. Rumkowsky says he can have any of the stuff he pulls out; it's been there so long.  Deeper into the box he goes, still no hat.  But the stuff he keeps, his friends are crazy about all the bizarre items.

On the next day his visit reveals things stranger and stranger.  Pretty soon he's going to reach the bottom.  Where is his hat?

You can't stop time and Friday arrives.  His Grandmother will be with his Mom when she picks him up after school.  What exactly is Justin going to find?  He may surprise his mom, delight his grandmother and old Mr. Rumkowsky...well, he's not the guardian of Lost and Found for nothing.


Bill Harley's skills as an oral teller translate well in his written work.  He establishes a rhythm in his narrative by using the repetition of key phrases in similar situations.  Through his use of dialogue character personalities shine.  As a teller he knows how to interest his audience, surround them with story and manage to surprise them a time or two.


Every single time I read this book I discover some new detail in the realistic, full color oil paintings rendered by Adam Gustavson.  Stark white endpapers feature autumn leaves in motion across the pages, the opening and closing differ in the portion of an object featured on each...foreshadowing?  Gustavson continues to include leaves scattered across his illustrations whenever the characters are outside (even reflected in the car's mirror) as well as on a bulletin board in the hallway inside the school.

The majority of the pictures extend across two pages zooming in to emphasize the character's importance or an object relative to the situation.  Details in every visual invite inspection; objects under the hamster's cage, (has the hamster figured out a way to escape), the large CAUTION on the mop bucket, multiple locks on the janitor's office door, Mr. Rumkowsky's duck-taped desk chair, or the mermaid tattoo on Mr. Rumkowsky's arm.  There is a noticeable warmth to Gustavson's people, in their eyes, mouths, hands and movements.  His portrayal of the inside and outside of the school is so real the feeling you get around a schoolyard or walking down the halls (you know what I mean), it's there.


Childhood fears are faced with unexpected results in Lost and Found written by two-time Grammy Award winning Bill Harley with illustrations painted in oil by Adam Gustavson.  Whether sharing one on one or as a group read aloud, this is a winner.  It is a recipient of the Parents' Choice Approved award under Picture Books for Fall 2012.