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THE BACKWARDS BIRTHDAY PARTY

Name: THE BACKWARDS BIRTHDAY PARTY
Author: Tom Chapin
ISBN: 978-1-4424-6798-9

by Tom Chapin ; illustrated by Chuck Groenink ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 17, 2015

A nice selection for any collection and, of course, an excellent birthday present.

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What if birthdays were backward?

A young Caucasian boy wakes up ready to celebrate his birthday only to find that time is moving backward. As the fanciful refrain says, they are, “[a]t the backwards birthday party, / where everything’s out of whack. / The backwards birthday party! / The partyday birthwards back.” A bouncing, jovial rhyme describes the reversed sequencing as the story moves forward—er, backward. The sun sets, the animals say goodbye, and then they enter the house in a most perplexing manner. Colorful, appealing illustrations portray the boy and his animal friends with just the right amount of detail as they eat cake first thing (hurray!) and the boy wraps presents and hands them out to each animal. The boy’s parents watch, flummoxed, as confusion and backward behavior abound. With the exception of a sentence that reads oddly (it begins at the bottom of the page and moves up), all is smooth and silly here. Youngsters will giggle along with this lighthearted selection as they relish all the important moments that birthdays bring and learn about sequencing and time in an enjoyable way.

A nice selection for any collection and, of course, an excellent birthday present. (Picture book. 4-8)

Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2015

ISBN: 978-1-4424-6798-9

Page Count: 40

Publisher: Atheneum

Review Posted Online: Nov. 3, 2014

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 15, 2014

Categories:

CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

- BOOK REVIEW
THIS PRETTY PLANET
by Tom Chapin & John Forster ; illustrated by Lee White

- BOOK REVIEW
THE LIBRARY BOOK
by Tom Chapin & Michael Mark ; illustrated by Chuck Groenink

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WHY A DAUGHTER NEEDS A MOM

by Gregory R. Lange ; illustrated by Sydney Hanson ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 1, 2019

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned.

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All the reasons why a daughter needs a mother.

Each spread features an adorable cartoon animal parent-child pair on the recto opposite a rhyming verse: “I’ll always support you in giving your all / in every endeavor, the big and the small, / and be there to catch you in case you should fall. / I hope you believe this is true.” A virtually identical book, Why a Daughter Needs a Dad, publishes simultaneously. Both address standing up for yourself and your values, laughing to ease troubles, being thankful, valuing friendship, persevering and dreaming big, being truthful, thinking through decisions, and being open to differences, among other topics. Though the sentiments/life lessons here and in the companion title are heartfelt and important, there are much better ways to deliver them. These books are likely to go right over children’s heads and developmental levels (especially with the rather advanced vocabulary); their parents are the more likely audience, and for them, the books provide some coaching in what kids need to hear. The two books are largely interchangeable, especially since there are so few references to mom or dad, but one spread in each book reverts to stereotype: Dad balances the two-wheeler, and mom helps with clothing and hair styles. Since the books are separate, it aids in customization for many families.

New parents of daughters will eat these up and perhaps pass on the lessons learned. (Picture book. 4-8, adult)

Pub Date: May 1, 2019

ISBN: 978-1-4926-6781-0

Page Count: 32

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Review Posted Online: March 16, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2019

Categories:

CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES | CHILDREN'S FAMILY | CHILDREN'S HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS

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HOW TO CATCH A DADDYSAURUS

From the How To Catch… series

by Alice Walstead ; illustrated by Andy Elkerton ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2023

This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans.

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It’s time to look for the elusive Daddysaurus.

In this latest installment in the seemingly never-ending series about a group of diverse kids attempting to trap mythical creatures, the youngsters are now on the lookout for a big mauve dinosaur with an emblazoned D on his stomach and a superhero cape. The fast-moving Daddysaurus is always on the go; he will be difficult to catch. Armed with blueprints of possible ideas, the kids decide which traps to set. As in previous works, ones of the sticky variety seem popular. They cover barbells with fly paper (Daddysaurus like to exercise) and spread glue on the handle of a shovel (Daddysaurus also likes to garden). One clever trick involves tempting Daddysaurus with a drawing of a hole, taped to the wall, because he fixes everything that breaks. Daddysaurus is certainly engaged in the children’s lives, not a workaholic or absent, but he does fall into some standard tropes associated with fathers. The rhyming quatrains stumble at times but for the most part bounce along. Overall, though, text and art feel somewhat formulaic and likely will tempt only devotees of the series. The final page of the book (after Daddysaurus is caught with love) has a space for readers to write a note or draw a picture of their own Daddysaurus. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

This frenetic ode to fatherhood is predictable fare but may please series fans. (Picture book. 4-8)