about the book
It is such a beautiful day and little Penny the mouse takes her dolly Rose for a stroller ride. Mom says she can go only as far as Mrs. Goodwin’s house, so back and forth she traipses, imagining different places to see and things to do with each pass.
While pretending that she and Rose are flying high in the clouds, Penny spots something blue and round and shiny by Mrs. Goodwin’s bird bath. It is a marble.
It can’t be Mrs. Goodwin marble. She’s way too old to play with toys. With a quick glance around to make sure no one is looking, Penny slips the perfect blue glass orb into her pocket and high-tails it back home.
At first she loves how smooth the marble feels and how it rolls across the floor. But even as she plays with it, she knows she did something wrong. The marble isn’t hers. It belongs to someone else and she should not have taken it.
As the day passes, her guilt grows and everything from oranges to peas reminds her of what she did wrong. Even her dreams that night are haunted.
The next morning, she sneaks furtively back to Mrs. Godwin’s lawn to return the marble. But guess what happens when she is caught in the act!
about the author
Born and raised in a comfortable home in Racine, Wisconsin, Kevin Henkes was the fourth child in a family of five living in a neighborhood full of children. When Kevin was young, he loved to draw. After both his parents and teachers told him he was good at it, he loved it even more and wanted to do it all the time.
Kevin studied books and greatly respected them—which meant that he carried them around with him everywhere; they often smelled of peanut butter and were covered with fingerprints. So when he headed for the University of Wisconsin in Madison, he knew he was going to be an illustrator and writer.
At nineteen Kevin wrote his first picture book. Once he finished that book, he took his life savings and went to New York City, planning to stay just one week. On Monday morning he headed out with his portfolio to visit the publishers on his list. By Tuesday morning he had a signed contract!
He has been writing and illustrating ever since.
Kevin now lives in Madison with his illustrator wife, Laura Dronzek. They have separate studios in their home and take turns caring for their two children while the other one paints!
Sources:
Author website
Author interview : Book Page
Author review : Books in the Classroom
Author biography : Wikipedia
Also by Kevin Henkes:
Waiting. Greenwillow. September 2015.
The Year of Billy Miller. Greenwillow. 2013.
Penny and Her Doll. Greenwillow. 2012.
Penny and Her Song. Greenwillow. 2012.
Little White Rabbit. Greenwillow. 2011.
My Garden. Harper Collins. 2010.
Birds. Greenwillow. 2009.
Old Bear. Greenwillow. 2008.
Good Day. Greenwillow. 2007.
Lilly’s Big Day. Greenwillow. 2006.
So Happy! Greenwillow. 2005.
Kitten’s First Full Moon. Greenwillow. 2004.
read more!
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One Bright Ring by Gretchen Geser
A little girl, strolling the busy city street with her mommy, sees a diamond ring tumble from the pocket of the man in front of them. The little girl grabs the fallen treasure and then bravely pursues the man in a heart-pounding, mommy-tugging chase down the busy street, counting the signposts, urban details, and road blocks along the way. Can she slip the ring back into his pocket before he proposes to his girlfriend?
Penny and Her Doll by Kevin Henkes
Penny is in the garden sniffing roses while Mama tends to the weeds. They are surprised by the mailman who arrives with a box for Penny—a perfect doll from grandma! Penny loves the doll immediately but does not know the doll’s name. Though her parents try to help her, Penny just hasn’t a clue about what to call the doll…until she goes out into the garden once again!