It's a curious story, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse — a spunky mouse who loves school. The play is part of the Center for the Performing Arts' Forever Young series.

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is a play for young children and their families. Presented at 2 p.m. Sunday in Eisenhower Auditorium, it works as a Sunday outing for young children — or over-worked college students in need of comic relief.

Adapted by Kevin Kling from Kevin Henkes' popular series of books for children, Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse is like a story read to a child before bed. A young mouse named Lilly takes her new glittery glasses (she is obviously a stylish mouse) and purple plastic purse to school. Anxious to share her new things, she ignores her teacher's warning to wait and interrupts the class.

Big mistake.

In a shocking disregard of Lilly's civil liberties, her teacher confiscates both purse and contents. We join Lilly as Lilly's fury leads to revenge and then to remorse and she sets out to make amends.

Being Lilly isn't easy; not only has she been betrayed by her beloved teacher, but her new baby brother at home is hogging all the attention and she has an annoying cousin named Garland, who thinks she is "soooo beautiful" (but does she have a purple purse?).

But Lilly is nothing if not confident, and we join her on her escapades in this play recommended for ages four and up.

Laura Sullivan, head of public relations for the Center for the Performing Arts, described the play as a "fun and educational way for children to learn valuable lessons about family, friendship and forgiveness.

"It will be an exciting experience for youngsters to watch one of their best-loved story characters jump from the pages of Kevin Henkes' books for children into full life on stage," Sullivan said.

Tickets are $8. For tickets or information, contact the Arts Ticket Center from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 814-863-0255.