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The World of Kevin Henkes

In September, Kevin Henkes will collect all nine of his mice books in one volume. This has never happened before. The mice are varied: Lilly, who can't control herself; Wemberly, fighting OCD; Chrysanthemum, painfully vulnerable to the opinions of others. There are more.

I've written about Chrysanthemum before. She is the mouse burdened by an unconventional name; when she arrives in Pre-K, other mice cruelly call attention to that name. Gradually, Chrysanthemum becomes unhinged. All is salvaged when a cool new music teacher appears--and it emerges that this teacher is called "Delphinium." Suddenly, "Chrysanthemum" becomes an enviable name.

What distinguishes this book--as usual--is the level of detail. Chrysanthemum begins school in fancy clothes, but when she comes to understand that school is a hellish experience, she starts wearing comfy sack-like outfits, with extra pockets for good luck charms. She cannot help but trace her name in the sand as she walks; this makes the walk longer, so the start of school is delayed. Also, if you study and study and study the thing that torments you....maybe you'll find a solution.

Chrysanthemum's sociopathic antagonists--Jo, Rita, and Victoria--maybe half-understand what they're doing. But there's also a childish obliviousness in their comments: "Flowers attract WORMS!" "Chrysanthemum is literally one-half of the alphabet!" "That's not a name that even fits on a tag!" (Henkes does not "judge" when his heroine takes pleasure in Victoria's downfall. Famously, Victoria forgets her lines in the class musicale.)

If this were a celebrity book--if the author were Jimmy Fallon--you'd lose all the detail. It's the baggy outfit with the extra pockets: This is what makes Henkes a genius.

I'm always awed by the range of Henkes's output. And the consistent high level of quality. I feel like I actually "know" these mice.

P.S. After writing this, I went back to Amazon. I now cannot find the omnibus--once slated for September. Maybe I'm losing my mind? Or COVID strikes again? Also--clearly--there are more than nine mice tales.

P.P.S. WAIT AGAIN! Sept. 22. "Lilly and Friends." An omnibus. But the text says it will be "all nine" mice books. I think the ad writer meant: "Nine of MANY mice books....."
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