Book Talk Tuesday: Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes

Penny and Her Song
written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
Greenwillow Books, 2012
ISBN: 978-0-06-208195-7
32 p.
Grades K-2
Reviewed from purchased copy.

BLURB: Strike up the band! Ready the confetti! Meet Penny--a brand-new mouse from Caldecott Medalist Henkes. Penny joins the beloved Lilly, Owen, Chrysanthemum, and Wemberly with her very own new picture book series. 

In this book, Henkes introduces us to a new character, a character just as interesting and unique as Owen or Lily, a character who loves to sing. Penny arrives home from school wanting to sing her song for her family.  After both mom and dad interrupt her performance to remind her that the babies are sleeping and she needs to be quiet, Penny determines to sing her song for herself.  But she discovers that singing to herself is just not the same as singing for someone else.  She searches her room for someone to perform for without success. Finally, her parents come to her rescue and Penny gets to sing her song.

This is a fun story of self-confidence and finding joy in the simple things.  It distinctly reminds me of a girl at my school who invents and shares songs at the drop of a hat.  This is one of the things I love about working with young children, they are so unselfconscious and so willing to share and they still get excited about simple things.  In typical Henkes fashion the illustrations are bright and cheerful and welcoming.  I would be surprised if this book doesn't inspire readers to create their own songs, in fact that would be a fun activity to do with this book.

For more great book talks head on over to The Book Butcher for today's Book Talk Tuesday.