Fuse 8 n’ Kate: Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Thanks to a listener suggestion, Kate and I finally crack open the Henkes box. And when you’re talking Henkes, there’s only one place to start. Now I should warn you right from the start that I make an egregious error in this podcast. I own this mistake. This thing of darkness I claim mine. You see, at one point I make the claim that Julius, Baby of the World was published AFTER Purple Plastic Purse. I think we can all agree that this wasn’t the case, but I’ve been convinced of this order for years. Whoopsie. That said, I have scoured the internet and I think it’s fair to say that I’ve never seen anyone discuss the presence of Ignatz Mouse from Krazy Kat in this book before. Woohoo! Reference acquired!

And as Kate says about today’s book, “It’s not about the purse”.

Listen to the whole show here on Soundcloud or download it through iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, or your preferred method of podcast selection.

Show Notes:

– I wasn’t lying. I really am working my way through The Fat Witch Brownies book, seen here. Try the blondies with chocolate chips. Like a chocolate chip cookie in brownie form.

– I believe Kevin Henkes ran into Susan Hirschman when he traipsed in as a stars-in-his-eyes teen. You can read a rather lovely remembrance of this moment in this Horn Book article Kevin Henkes – Twenty-Five Years.

– We are happy to hear any alternate titles to this book. The two we’ve come up with so far are, “Mr. Slinger’s Revenge” or “Lilly Undone”.

– Victor. Not a bully. Just dresses like one.

– The Ms. Frizzle of mouse male teachers.

– Baby in cowboy boots

– A blast from the past. Clapping the blackboard erasers.

– Spelling “thief” correctly belies Lilly’s intelligence right there.

– Never was killing bugs more charming than this.

– Ignatz Mouse. Clear as crystal. Behold him in all his glory.

– What was in those snacks?

– Came in at #11 on the Top 100 Picture Books Poll.

– The Lilly musical can actually be viewed here in its entirety:

– Here is the link to the piece I found on Teaching Children Philosophy.

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