The Best Birthday Ever!

The Best Birthday Ever
by Charise Mericle Harper
Disney/Hyperion Books, 2011, unpaged.
Picture Book

"On your birthday, you should be Princess of the World!" but that does not mean the birthday girl can do whatever she wants. Everyone will have more fun if the birthday child learns a few do's and don'ts about birthday manners. This is a great book to read a week before a child's birthday. Lana Kittie demonstrates appropriate ways to greet guests at the door, nice ways to show appreciation for a gifts and other essential birthday behaviors. She also suggests that the birthday child practice birthday behaviors with stuffed animals and other toys before the big event. Harper illustrates the book with very fun and feminine cartoons of Lana Kittie and her toy friends. There is even glitter on the bow on the cover. This book is likely to appeal to the children who enjoy Fancy Nancy (Harper Collins 2006)) and is a great way to get a preschool-2nd grade girl ready for the big day.

Comments

Funny Farm by Mark Teague 2009

There are things I liked about Mark Teague's newest book, Funny Farm , and things I didn't like. Where should I start? I'll do the "didn'ts" first. The illustrations show animals personified. Well, some of the animals are. The main characters, Edward, and his farm family relatives, all dogs, are humanized. They stand upright, do farm chores, eat at a table, wear clothes, knit (yes, with paws) and sleep in beds. Most everybody else on and around the farm, who are also animals, act like animals. They are outside, roll in mud, live in the barn, and require care from their owners. It struck me the most on the page spread where there are pigs playing in puddle in the rain and Edward, a black and white boxer, watches from inside the house. I thought "You're a dog! Go play with them!" But, alas, he can't, seeing as how he goes through his entire visit to the farm wearing a suit and red bow tie. Another picture that bothered me was the maple syrup pa...

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

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The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester 2008

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