Penny and Her Doll

Naming things, whether children, pets, or toys, is serious business, and in this follow-up to Penny and Her Song (rev. 3/12) Henkes doesn’t take that task lightly. Gram sends mouse Penny a doll: "The doll had pink cheeks. The doll had a pink bow. The doll had a pink dress with big buttons." But what to name her? As Penny spends three brief and accessible chapters wondering what to call this most lovely doll, Henkes gently guides readers through the process. It all works beautifully. The illustrations are varied, not only supporting the text but also adding some character development, such as when Penny systematically shows her new doll around the house. The language is natural ("‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘I will find a name for you’"), and there’s a literary sophistication not often found in books for this age, with wordplay exchanged between Penny and her mother as they work in the garden and subtle clues that allow readers to make predictions about the doll’s eventual moniker. In this second easy reader about Penny, Henkes continues to give children reasons to want to read, long after the satisfaction of learning how to has passed, by offering a fine story, memorable characters, and a chance to puzzle through a universal childhood experience right alongside a sympathetic protagonist. betty carter

Gram sends mouse Penny (Penny and Her Song) a doll, and Penny spends three brief and accessible chapters on the serious business of naming her. The illustrations support the text and also add some character development. Henkes again offers a fine story, memorable characters, and a chance to puzzle through a universal childhood experience alongside a sympathetic protagonist.

When readers open Penny and Her Doll, a pastel garden greets them; butterflies flutter in the background and serene clouds float by. The artwork is cheery, calm, and bright, welcoming children (especially those who love pink!) with open arms. The early-reader format features simple vocabulary and sentence structure, as well as a clean, uncluttered layout. Penny’s task—naming a new doll—is relatable. Children will share both her frustration as she discards names that don’t feel “right” and her delight as she stumbles across a name that works perfectly—a name that circles back to the beginning of the story and allows readers an “aha!” moment. Henkes’s illustrations make every moment in the story emotionally legible. Whether Penny is smelling roses with contented sighs or snuggling up to her new doll, her happiness is clear in both her expression and her body language. Luckily for readers, this happiness is contagious. While fans of Penny and Her Song will be pleased to read more about Penny, Penny and Her Doll also works well as a stand-alone title.