Junonia by Kevin Henkes

I first talked about Junonia here on this blog in 2011. I suggest you begin with my previous post. On a recent visit to Gleebooks in Sydney I spied this book on their shelves. I really cannot list my top ten or even most favourite book but Junonia is a book I do think about from time to time and it is certainly a firm favourite so I decided (since I had left my beloved copy behind in my former school library) that I should buy a copy for myself. You probably already know I am a huge fan of Kevin Henkes. 

This morning I sat down and re-read the whole book again - I think this might be the third time I have read Junonia. Then I re-read my blog post and I was surprised by my own writing - well done to me!

Here are a few text quotes:

"Alice concentrated entirely on the pelican. The bird was so odd and silly looking, a mysterious, mesmerising wonder. ... She'd seen pelicans before, every year that she had been here, but when you see something only once a year it's always new, as if you're seeing it for the first time."

"Alice had a pale, watchful face. She had straight brown hair and brown eyes and a brown spot the size and shape of an apple seed near the corner of her mouth. The spot was a mole, but Alice hated the word mole and referred to as a speck. She hated the speck ... "

"When Alice's father unlocked the door to the pink cottage and Alice stepped inside, she brightened up instantly. Sunlight streamed through the windows. The walls of the main room and each smaller room were panelled with honey-coloured wood, once highly polished ... Alice felt as if she were entering an enchanted house from a fairy tale ... All  of the cottages were named for seashells. Alice's cottage was name Scallop. ... 'Hello, Scallop,' said Alice, twirling around. 'It's so good to see you again."

Junonia was first published in 2011. As I said, I purchased my copy a couple of weeks ago. Have you ever noticed book shop price stickers often have a date? My copy of Junonia was added to the shop inventory in December, 2020. I only paid $15 which was terrific. If this book is difficult to find in a shop perhaps it will be in your school or local library or perhaps you can borrow an ebook version. I do highly recommend Junonia for sensitive readers aged 9+. 

Kevin Henkes has created a character in Alice who deftly balances the line between girlhood and early adolescence. Her voice is authentic, and her worries, fears, and disappointments are spot-on. James Patterson

Henkes understands childhood disappointment in a way that really resonated with me, and I think Alice's perspective matches that of many real children whose lives are also changing as they move closer to adolescence. Read at Home Mom

An only child surrounded by affection, routine and attention, Alice has the space to realise that life can be an adventure experienced independently, even while held closely by those one loves. Kirkus Star review

Australian readers might need a map to understand where Alice lives (Wisconsin) and where they holiday each year in February (Florida).

Image Source: Wisconsin Auto transport

Here are some of the shells mentioned in this book including the wonderful but elusive junonia.

Image source: Southwest Florida Shells

I would follow Junonia with these:

Turtle in Paradise

Shouting at the Rain

The Grand Genius Summer of Henry Hoobler

Check out other Kevin Henkes books on this blog by typing his name in my search bar.

Come home Already! by Jory John illustrated by Benji Davies

This odd Duck and grouchy Bear make an excellent pair. Kirkus

Duck lives next door to Bear. Duck is friendly and enthusiastic. Bear is a loner who prefers to be left alone. Duck is not deterred. He wants to spend time (lots of time) with Bear. The sun is shining it's "a glorious morning full of possibility." Duck knocks on Bears door. There is no answer. Then he sees a sign - gone fishing!

"Bear's gone fishing?
He's back next week?
BEAR'S GONE FISHING?
HE'S BACK NEXT WEEK?
He's gone fishing?
Without me?
But ...
but ...
FISHING?
What am I going to do with myself until then?"

Meanwhile Bear has set off with his tent, teddy bear and map. He is happy to have some time alone.

Duck tries to entertain himself - reading, cooking, writing letters, drumming and watching a movie but he soon becomes bored.  He decides to set off to find bear.

Meanwhile Bear is not going too well. He cannot work out how to put up his tent, he forgot to pack snacks, it has started to rain and he cannot light his camp fire.

Duck arrives just in time:

"Bear it's me! Duck! From next door. I found you, ol' buddy, ol' chum."

I love the emotional aspects of this story.  Bear really does need a friend and Duck is such a happy soul but he is a little too enthusiastic.  Bear needs Duck, but only in small doses. Like all relationships theirs is a complex one.

Read this review. Here are details of the four books along with some work sheets.  I would follow this series with the book series by Bonny Becker about Mouse and Bear along with the books you can see below. Take a look at this trailer. If you want to explore another funny book about camping trips that go wrong take a look at Herman's Holiday.

Something to think about - so many of these odd couple relationships involve bears. Rabbit and Bear, Mouse and Bear, Bird (Honey) and Bear, Chook and Bear, Racoon and Bear (Herman) and now Duck and Bear. This might be a fun mini theme to explore with a class.

Charlie and me 421 Miles from home by Mark Lowery

Martin is doing his best to be a good big brother, but it's hard when there's something so huge coming once they get to Cornwall ... Toppsta

Imagine filling a puppy with blue Smarties and Lemon Fanta, then bouncing it on a trampoline: that's Charlie when he's excited.

First off I need to say do not, do not, DO NOT jump to the last pages before you finish this book. Even giving this advice feels like a spoiler. Just read Charlie and Me 421 Miles from home and let the surprises unfold.

Martin has organised everything -  food, money, and the family biscuit tin. He is running away with his young brother, Charlie. Martin loves Charlie even though the youngster is challenging.

"Here's what I'd say about Charlie.  'Lazy eye, massive head, snores like a hippo, often ill, weird taste in food, terrible memory, always out of breath cos of his asthma, cheeky, can't do anything for himself or concentrate for more than two seconds, brain's inside out, no understanding of danger. My absolute best mate in the whole entire world."

Buying the train tickets is as complex as the actual journey which involves so many changes to different trains you almost need a map. You can read more of the plot by clicking on the review quotes above and below.  Rather than relate the plot I would like to share some of Charlie's words of wisdom.

Charlie loves foil covered biscuits "the hefty thick ones in the golden foil? ... Ninety per cent chocolate. Five per cent biscuit.'  'What's the other five percent?' I ask ... Charlie sniffs hard. 'Dreams."

"What's what?' 'The meaning of life.' 'Ah. Well, actually, it turns out it's ... cheese."

When Charlie sees a dolphin jump out of the water, Charlie tells his dad "It was like a ... a ... a bobble hat full of hope and happiness."

Charlie finished his breakfast which "tastes of the future." He has porridge with three fried eggs on top.

I would pair Charlie and Me 421 Miles from home with The Secrets we Keep, Run, Pip, run and The Honest Truth. 

I highly recommend Charlie and me 421 Miles from home as an engaging, surprising and fast paced personal story of love between two brothers.  The story structure of flashback chapters and Martin's poems add interest. Big thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my Advanced Reader Copy. For more books by Mark Lowery take a look at his web site.


In Charlie and Me, Mark Lowery has delivered a very special story. Readers will cry with laughter and sadness in equal measure, as they share in the journey of two children on a mission to rediscover whatever the magic ingredient was that made an old family holiday so special. Books for Keeps

The miniature world of Marvin and James by Elisa Broach illustrated by Kelly Murphy

Last year I read Masterpiece by Elise Broach. This is a terrific book about a boy, a beetle and an audacious art theft. It is rarely on our library shelves as I constantly recommend it for students in grades 4 and 5.  You can listen to an audio extract here

The Miniature world of Marvin and James is a little book intended as a junior spin off.  I am guessing the idea might be that you read Masterpiece aloud to a group of young students in Grade 2 or 3 and then they can pick up one of the miniature adventures and continue their own reading about James and his splendid beetle friend Marvin.

The Miniature World of Marvin and James is the first book in this series.  James if off on a holiday.  Marvin can't go but he does help James to pack.  While James is away Marvin frets but then he chances upon an amazing place while exploring the house with his cousin Elaine.

"What is this thing?' Marvin asks.
'I don't know,' Elaine says, 'but isn't it the best?'
They perch at the edge of the tunnel, then dive, one after the other.  ...
As they are jumping and diving and rolling in the soft wood shavings, they hear a noise."
Take a look at the picture below for a hint about where they are playing and also take a look at the illustrator web page.

You can read an excerpt here and also some reviews.  This is little gem is a book with a fast pace and a very special hero.

This winsome series debut is both a sweet story of cross-species friendship and a sobering new way to look at pencil sharpeners.

Junonia by Kevin Henkes

We read to know we are not alone (CS Lewis). I wish I had read Junonia when I was a Primary school child, Alice Rice and I have so much in common. Alice is a quiet, compliant and well mannered child. As an only child with older parents she spends a lot of time in the company of adults. She travels to the same special holiday house in Florida year after year and Alice especially loves celebrating her birthday with the most special food, presents and happenings that she can imagine. Finally Alice has a little mole on her face which she has very mixed feelings about.

Each year as this group of three, mother, father and Alice, arrive at their holiday destination they have a little competition. Who will spot the first pelican, dolphin, heron, ibis and seagull? But as they approach the familiar holiday house Alice is overcome by a feeling of dread. It seems things are destined to be different this year.

One thing that that has not changed though is her room :

“The sun-bleached bedspread was printed with a pattern of a seaside Chinese village. Alice ran her fingers over rooftops and archways, over billowy swarms of butterflies and blossom-covered tress…. Here and there the bedspread was threadbare but Alice hoped it would never be replaced. She often fell asleep imagining that she was part of the village, wandering the twisted streets among the butterflies, collecting armfuls of fallen blossoms.”

Alice loves to collect shells and Henkes has thoughtfully included an illustration of all the shells that are found in this part of Florida. One shell that has alluded Alice is a junonia. She hopes that this year, the year she will turn ten, she will find this special shell washed up on the beach. Living near the beach I also find shells absolutely fascinating. Here is a video of the author talking about his book.

One of the biggest differences for Alice this year is the composition of the fellow holiday makers. Her holiday friends Colin, Chad and Heather are not coming and her beloved Aunty Kate is bringing a new friend called Ted and his young six year old daughter, Mallory.

Alice has to adapt to all this change but at least, it seems, her birthday celebration will be perfect :

“The hot dogs were perfect. The potato chips were perfect. Even the carrot sticks were perfect; they were sweeter than ever, and crunchy, and the most pure orange colour imaginable. Can food somehow know it’s your birthday and change to become more delicious? Underneath it all lay the faded red-and-white-checked tablecloth that Alice’s mother had found in the back of the cupboard. It was perfect too.”

You will hold your breath I am sure as the magic of this celebration crumbles around Alice.

My list of favourite books constantly changes and expands and now I am happy to add the gentle and emotional book Junonia. By coincidence we read Chrysanthemum to our Grade One classes this week and now that I think about it I can see lots of links between this very special picture which is essentially about identity and this novel by the same author, Junonia.