[3][4] The book is about the titular character, an anthropomorphic mouse, attending school.

Lilly, the main character of the story, appeared in several of author Kevin Henkes's stories published before Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, including Chester's Way (1988) and Julius, the Baby of the World (1990).

[5] From NPR: Reviews have called attention to Henkes’s illustrations, with one reviewer calling them, “skilled, playful and spirited.”[2] The book received a positive review from the New York Times in which the review said, "every once in a while—and in children's books, it's only once in a very great while—there is a book so delightful, so exuberant, honest and evocative of the passionate life that children live as we look on, that one considers nailing a proclamation to the door of the local bookseller or wearing a copy around one's neck to advertise it.

and also remarked, "In all of children's literature there is just a handful of characters we think of as family—Madeline, Winnie the Pooh and Charlotte come to mind—and when this young generation is old enough to reflect on the ones it loved, Lilly will probably lead the pack.

"[5] Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse was adapted for the stage by playwright Kevin Kling and the play has subsequently been produced by numerous local theater companies, including: This article about a picture book is a stub.