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Quick answer: If you loved Chrysanthemum, try Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, Owen, Wemberly Worried, The Name Jar, Your Name Is a Song and Alma and How She Got Her Name. Each one is a warm picture book about names, self-esteem, school and being proud of who you are.
Kevin Henkes's 1991 picture book follows Chrysanthemum, a little mouse who loves her name until she starts school. Her classmates tease her because it is long and named after a flower, and she begins to wilt. Then the class meets their music teacher, Mrs. Delphinium Twinkle, who loves her own flower name and plans to name her baby Chrysanthemum. Readers love its humor and heart. These books share its self-esteem and its school stories.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse | Kevin Henkes | 4-8 | readers who want more Henkes |
| Owen | Kevin Henkes | 3-6 | readers who like comfort objects |
| Wemberly Worried | Kevin Henkes | 3-7 | readers who worry |
| The Name Jar | Yangsook Choi | 4-8 | readers who like names |
| Your Name Is a Song | Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow | 4-8 | readers who like proud names |
| Alma and How She Got Her Name | Juana Martinez-Neal | 3-7 | readers who like long names |
| Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon | Patty Lovell | 4-8 | readers who like confidence |
| The Kissing Hand | Audrey Penn | 3-7 | readers starting school |
| First Day Jitters | Julie Danneberg | 4-8 | readers who are nervous |
| The Recess Queen | Alexis O'Neill | 4-8 | readers who like bullies made friends |
| Julius, the Baby of the World | Kevin Henkes | 3-7 | readers who like new siblings |
| Elmer | David McKee | 3-7 | readers who like being different |
| Thank You, Mr. Falker | Patricia Polacco | 6-9 | readers who like great teachers |
| The Day You Begin | Jacqueline Woodson | 5-8 | readers who like feeling different |
| I Like Myself! | Karen Beaumont | 3-7 | readers who need self-love |
1. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
Lilly learns to control her excitement at school.
Best for: readers who want more Henkes.
2. Owen by Kevin Henkes
A mouse won't give up his blanket.
Best for: readers who like comfort objects.
3. Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes
A mouse worries about everything.
Best for: readers who worry.
4. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
A Korean girl decides whether to choose an American name.
Best for: readers who like names.
5. Your Name Is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow
A girl teaches her class to sing her name.
Best for: readers who like proud names.
6. Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal
A girl learns the story of her many names.
Best for: readers who like long names.
7. Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
A girl is proud to be herself.
Best for: readers who like confidence.
8. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
A raccoon starts school.
Best for: readers starting school.
9. First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg
A surprise about who's nervous.
Best for: readers who are nervous.
10. The Recess Queen by Alexis O'Neill
A new girl wins over a bully.
Best for: readers who like bullies made friends.
11. Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes
Lilly is not happy about her new baby brother.
Best for: readers who like new siblings.
12. Elmer by David McKee
A patchwork elephant.
Best for: readers who like being different.
13. Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
A teacher helps a girl learn to read.
Best for: readers who like great teachers.
14. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson
Children find connection.
Best for: readers who like feeling different.
15. I Like Myself! by Karen Beaumont
A girl celebrates herself.
Best for: readers who need self-love.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Chrysanthemum: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
If you are not sure where to begin, start with the first three picks in the table: they are the closest match to Chrysanthemum. The rest of the list moves further out, so it works well once you know which part of the original you liked most. If a pick is part of a longer series, read the first book before you commit, and check the age or content notes in the table before passing a book to a younger reader.
How to Choose
For more Henkes, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse and Wemberly Worried are favorites. For books about names, The Name Jar, Your Name Is a Song and Alma are wonderful. If your child is starting school, The Kissing Hand and First Day Jitters are perfect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chrysanthemum about?
A mouse is teased about her long flower name until a teacher helps her love it again.
What age is it for?
It suits children about 3 to 8.
Is it good for the first day of school?
Yes. Teachers often read it in the first weeks.
Who is Mrs. Twinkle?
The music teacher who shares her own flower name.
Who is Kevin Henkes?
An author-illustrator who won a Caldecott Medal for Kitten's First Full Moon.
What lesson does it teach?
To be proud of who you are, including your name.
What should my child read next?
The Name Jar.