Chrysanthemum

 

HENKES, KEVIN. CHRYSANTHEMUM. GREENWILLOW BOOKS, 2019.

Genre: Fiction 

Lexile: 570L

More info: https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/chrysanthemum-by-kevin-henkes/ 

Summary: Chrysanthemum thinks she has the prettiest name in the whole world. Until she starts kindergarten and is suddenly being bullied over her name. The other students tease her and ask if she is a flower and if they can sniff her. Her name is so different than the other students in her classroom. Will Chrysanthemum be able to overcome the bullying and stand up to the kids in her classroom? With the help of her beautiful music teacher, Delphinium Twinkle, she just might be able to.

Target audience: Pre-k-2nd grade.

Evaluation: I love this book. My mom read this book to me when I was very little and I have always remembered it! I think this would be a lovely book to read in the classroom. It is a great story for all students, especially the select students in the classroom who might have more unique, different names. The theme is all about being confident in yourself and learning that differences make us beautiful. I would recommend this book be read in all younger level classrooms. I also think the illustrations are adorable and the students will love them!

Reader response activity: I think a fun activity would be to have all of my students draw a flower (I would provide resources) and cut it out. We could make a garden with all of our flowers and then talk about how all of our flowers are different but they are all still beautiful.