Lilly's Big Day [Hardcover]

Kevin Henkes (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Mr. Slinger has big news.
He's getting married.
Married!

Lilly has big plans.
She's going to be the flower girl.
(Lilly has always wanted to be a flower girl.
Even more than a surgeon or a diva or a hairdresser.)

But what's the biggest,
the best,
the most perfect thing of all?
You're invited to the wedding -- so start reading!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-When her teacher, Mr. Slinger, announces that he is going to marry Ms. Shotwell, the school nurse, the indomitable Lilly takes her role as flower girl at their wedding for granted. Of course, he hasn't asked her-yet-but the young mouse commences practicing her very slow walk, eyebrows raised, hands in front grasping her imaginary bouquet. Her parents give her reasons why her plan might go awry. Do you understand-¦? they ask. I understand that I'm going to be a flower girl, she responds. At school, she writes Mr. Slinger a note, declaring herself The World's Best and Most Famous Flower Girl. He finally persuades her to be an assistant to his niece, and Lilly rises to the rescue in a surprise twist that satisfies everybody. Henkes's familiar watercolor cartoons elaborate on the witty text. The desperate looks on Lilly's parents' and Mr. Slinger's faces are priceless. Full-page vignettes depict the little protagonist proudly practicing her flower-girl walk, which is eventually taken up by all the wedding guests at the reception. Adults will especially enjoy the shopping scene in which the sales lady pronounces Lilly adorable and her Granny silently quips, in small doses. But big doses of this feisty rodent will suit her many fans just fine.-Marianne Saccardi, formerly at Norwalk Community College, CT
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Pres-K. Lilly returns to some wonderful news: her beloved teacher, Mr. Slinger, is getting married. "It will be the biggest day of my life," he says. "Mine, too," whispers Lilly, who has always wanted to be a flower girl. Lilly, in cowboy boots and boa, marches around the next spread in many and varied poses--smiling brightly, looking demure, eyebrows raised, always with her hands in front of her, carrying an imaginary small bouquet. Lilly tells her parents that she's going to be Mr. Slinger's flower girl, but they inform her that since he hasn't asked her, that probably won't happen. Sure enough, some niece named Ginger has been tapped for the role, which makes Lilly both sad and mad. Mr. Slinger tries to smooth the situation by appointing Lilly Ginger's assistant, a not entirely satisfactory compromise until Lilly finds a way to share the spotlight. As in the previous books about Lilly, Henkes catches the hopes and dreams of children along with their stubborn belief that the world will turn the way they push it. And though Henkes mines no new ground artistically, he provides so many clever, captivating touches in each scene, there's always something new to look at. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books (March 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060742364
• ISBN-13: 978-0060742362
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Family Life > Marriage & Divorce
  • #73 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Non-religious

More About the Author

Kevin Henkes is the creator of many distinguished books for children, including Kitten's First Full Moon (winner of the Caldecott Medal), Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, and Chrysanthemum. His novels for young people include Olive's Ocean (a Newbery Honor Book) and Bird Lake Moon.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What a delight!, November 4, 2006

By 

Linda J. Perlis "Linda Perlis" (Potomac, Maryland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lilly's Big Day (Hardcover)

Our little granddaughter was preparing to be a "flower girl" at the age of 2!
So reading this to her for a couple of weeks ahead of time was such
a good idea -- and so helpful.
We substituted the names of our own family members where we could,
and ad-libbed into the book as needed.
She loved it!
AND she marched down that aisle with her little basket of flowers
with such purpose! It was a very exciting time -- the book was enormously
helpful.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slinger Shotguns Shotwell, December 13, 2006

By 

My Uncle Stu (Atlanta) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Lilly's Big Day (Hardcover)

An instant classic!

Henke does it again, great book. Henke creates very real characters who grapple with emotions about as intense as I've seen for this format. In Lilly's perfect day, her teacher, Mr. Slinger, in an act of naked nepotism, elevates his own niece to the role of flower girl. This despite the inordinate amount of energy Lilly has put towards practicing for the event, the proficiency with which she has rehearsed every precocious countenance, the inestimable classroom bragging rights with which she fixates her anticipation. This mouse is due her fate, and only the venal world of adult institutions could deny her.

No one can quite bring themselves to be direct her Lilly. "Do you understand what we are trying to tell you?" they ask. How can a child honestly answer that question? How can a parent honestly interpret a child's answer to that question. My stomach was in a knot for Lilly. I knew this was a Henke book, I knew it had to have a happy ending. But how could Lilly's youthful, brittle narcissism possibly absorb the onslaught of such a sleight? I wouldn't dream of ruining the ending here, but I will provide a little hint by saying that a baby mouse dose of propanolol would have gone a long way. But even the villainous niece's feelings are spared, as Henke ties up all the strands as only he can. Thumbs up for Henkes! And go Bears!

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Illustrations and a Fun Book for Budding Readers, May 23, 2006

By 

FictionAddiction.NET - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lilly's Big Day (Hardcover)

Sweet Lilly is back with another adventure for her fans. This time, she's convinced she'll be the flower girl when her teacher announces he'll be marrying the school nurse.

Lilly practices and practices. "It will be the biggest day of my life," she says.

But when her teacher says he's already picked his niece Ginger to be the flower girl, Lilly's heart is broken. Her teacher doesn't want to let Lilly down, though, so he lets her be Ginger's assistant.

Lilly's still disappointed but she takes her new role as a flower girl assistant very seriously and brags to everyone how important assistants are in a wedding. Once it sinks in that she won't be the one walking down the aisle and carrying the flowers while everyone watches, she takes one more shot at trying to be the number one flower girl by asking over and over again if Ginger is really sure she wants to fulfill her role.

Ginger is convinced she's walking down that aisle. Until it's time for her to go, of course. Ginger completely freezes and can't move.

Only Lilly knows what to do. All her flower girl practice pays off as she prances down the aisle carrying Ginger, smiling brightly and hearing everyone clap when she makes it to where her teacher is standing waiting on his bride.

"I knew this would be the biggest day of my life!" she says.

Lilly's Big Day is geared to the 4-8 reader level but it's also a good book to sit and enjoy with younger children. The story is an easy read for budding readers and author and illustrator Kevin Henkes took no shortcuts with his beautiful illustrations. Many pages even have multiple illustrations of Lilly in action.

Lilly learns patience and teamwork during her adventure. She forms a special friendship with Ginger, the girl she envied just days before. The overall story is both a good lesson and a fun read for children.