Kevin Henkes's first venture into the beginning-reader format is simple proof that less is not only more, it is nearly perfect. Amazingly, this little book shows how much emotion can be conveyed in two short chapters of 73 exceedingly concise sentences, many made up of four words or fewer.
—The Washington Post
Henkes (Little White Rabbit) introduces a musical mouse who must wait for the right moment to share her talent with her family. When Penny walks in the door, ready to belt out the counting song she learned at school, her mother gently quiets her. “Your song is beautiful,” says Mama, “but you will wake the babies.” Penny gets the same reaction from her father, and she fidgets until mealtime. At the table, her parents ask her to hold off again. Finally, the whole family gathers for Penny’s solo, a catchy rhyme from one to 10. Henkes gives Penny a whole spread to herself, allowing her time in the spotlight. Mama, Papa, and the babies smile and join in for subsequent performances, an activity that has the welcome effect of helping Penny’s younger siblings fall asleep. Much as he did in Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Henkes presents an irrepressible heroine who struggles to compromise. Through measured characterizations, Henkes helps readers understand why Penny must be patient. Just as important, he models how parents can respond thoughtfully to an attention-seeking sibling. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)
A quiet gem.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“Imagination grows and spreads from the fertile pages of this book to the minds of young readers…A must for every library.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“This intimate exploration of a child’s burgeoning imagination hits every note right…Just plain perfect.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
K-Gr 2—In this mild, two-chapter tale for beginning readers, Henkes once again touches on the challenges of being an older sibling. Penny is a young mouse bursting to sing a song to her parents that she has just learned at school. But disappointingly, every time she begins to sing, her parents ask her to stop. "'Your song is beautiful,' said Mama, 'but you will wake up the babies." Singing to herself in the mirror or to her glass animals just isn't the same, so Penny tries again at dinner. "'Not at the table,' said Mama. 'After dinner,' said Papa." Finally, before bed, Penny gets her chance to perform. The whole family joins in and soon discovers that the youngster's song has helped lull the babies to sleep. The narrative here is light on drama and character growth. Penny is neither as charismatic nor immediately lovable as some of Henkes's other, well-known protagonists. However, families seeking easy vocabulary and an old-fashioned story with positive, sass-free family interactions will appreciate this gentle read. Pastel-hued watercolor and ink illustrations of Penny and her smiling mouse family (done in classic Henkes style) brighten each otherwise clean, white page. Fans of the author who have graduated to independent-reader status will be glad to see his familiar hand at work on the easy-reader shelves.—Jayne Damron, Farmington Community Library, MI
Penny comes home from school with a new and original song, but her parents just don’t seem to have time to listen. The new babies are their focus, not Penny. Sleeping babies, no singing at the dinner table—there’s always a reason not to hear her song. Will her glass animals appreciate her creation? Will she remember it in the morning? Cynthia Nixon’s narration is tender—gentle and quiet. Her Penny voice is suitably childlike, and her parents are understandably concerned for the new siblings but loving toward Penny as they come to realize that “one is nice, two is nice, three is even better. . . ” Joy abounds in a satisfying conclusion. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
Penny comes home from school with a new and original song, but her parents just don’t seem to have time to listen. The new babies are their focus, not Penny. Sleeping babies, no singing at the dinner table—there’s always a reason not to hear her song. Will her glass animals appreciate her creation? Will she remember it in the morning? Cynthia Nixon’s narration is tender—gentle and quiet. Her Penny voice is suitably childlike, and her parents are understandably concerned for the new siblings but loving toward Penny as they come to realize that “one is nice, two is nice, three is even better. . . ” Joy abounds in a satisfying conclusion. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine
Penny sings a joyful song that resonates in her happy mouse family. At first Mama and Papa are reluctant to hear the song that Penny made up, because they fear she might wake the babies. So she sings to herself in the mirror and to her collection of glass animals, but that's not very satisfying. Finally, after dinner she sings her song, and her parents make a real show of it, wearing costumes and singing with her again and again. All this excitement tires everyone and puts the babies to sleep in their basket. At bedtime, Penny worries that she will forget her song by morning, but when she wakes up, her special song is still with her. Penny joins Lilly and Owen in Henkes' pantheon of mouse children. She is delightfully human as she seeks to divert her parents' attention from the new babies. Henkes' signature crisp and bright watercolor-and-ink illustrations depict every action and emotion and appear in a variety of shapes and sizes, centered in line with large print text and surrounded by white space. He has visited this theme before, in Julius the Baby of the World, but here there is no overt jealousy, and the sweetness level is higher. A charming, child-friendly take on the ever-popular new-baby theme. (Early reader. 3-8)
