Have you been following the mouse books featuring Owen and Lilly by Kevin Henkes? Our first was Owen and the Marshmallow Chick. My wife bought it because the little mouse had my name. Well it was a huge hit with our young son and became a favorite of ours. My daughter, the one with the 'Fancy Nancy' room, has lately been demanding serial readings of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. Like Owen in Marshmallow Chick, Lilly develops an obsession with a possession. Not at all like real kids. Right? This time it is a probably cheap fashion accessory that plays a silly tune when opened and holds an assortment of essential kid items: loose change, sunglasses, school supplies, etc. Not at all like my wife's real purse. Right? Anyway the star of the story turns out not to be Lilly but Lilly's school teacher whom Lilly, along with all the other kids, adores. "I want to be a teacher when I grow up." says Lilly. Who is this kid magnet? A quiet but highly creative school teacher named Mr. Slinger, the kind some of us are lucky to have had and remember so well from our own school days. As in real life, Mr. Slinger probably doesn't make very much money, puts up with a lot of carp, as we say around our house, but knows exactly what he is doing and enjoys it. "Do you think you rodents can handle a semicircle?" asks Mr. Slinger? In addition to using imaginative teaching methods, Mr. Slinger also demonstrates that classroom discipline can be firm, loving and respectful. Even after Lilly throws a huge tantrum over not being able to play with her purple plastic purse all through the class, Mr. Slinger handles the situation with calm assurance, even love. As a result we all end up loving Mr. Slinger and wishing there were many more like him, and wishing that some day he and all the Mr. and Ms. Slingers out there will be repaid for all they have done for the benefit of our children's education and moral character.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
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