{"id":20178,"date":"2013-10-22T22:12:27","date_gmt":"2013-10-23T02:12:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=20178"},"modified":"2013-10-22T22:12:27","modified_gmt":"2013-10-23T02:12:27","slug":"review-of-the-meanest-birthday-girl-by-josh-schneider","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=20178","title":{"rendered":"Review of The Meanest Birthday Girl, by Josh Schneider"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The Meanest Birthday Girl<\/em><\/p>\n

by Josh Schneider<\/p>\n

Clarion Books, 2013. 48 pages.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s an early chapter book where the point is not that it\u2019s easy to read. The point is the clever and funny story. This one is worth reading even if you already read well.<\/p>\n

It was Dana\u2019s birthday and she could do whatever she liked.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Among the things she likes is not being very nice to Anthony.<\/p>\n

So imagine her surprise when Anthony gives her a wonderful present, a big white elephant.<\/p>\n

Dana was surprised that Anthony had gotten her a present. And such a wonderful present; she had always wanted an elephant. Dana would not have given a birthday present to someone who called her<\/em> an ickaborse and pinched her and ate the dessert out of her lunch.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, my,\u201d said Dana. \u201cI don\u2019t know what to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHappy birthday, Dana,\u201d said Anthony. \u201cTake good care of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d said Dana. She knew how important it is to take good care of one\u2019s pets.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

That\u2019s the catch, of course. Taking care of the elephant proves to be a daunting task. Along the way, while she\u2019s tired and frazzled from tending her elephant, Gertrude is mean to her. Turns out, though, that Gertrude\u2019s birthday is coming up\u2026.<\/p>\n

This story is wonderfully told, with the author not having to spell out the underlying emotions. The parallel construction when Dana gives the elephant away helps the reader fully understand all that is going on.<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t crazy about the art in this book, but by the time I finished, I laughed so hard, I knew I had to spread the word about this book. The Meanest Birthday Girl learns a lesson, and beginning readers will thoroughly enjoy being in on the joke.<\/p>\n

hmhbooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/meanest_birthday_girl.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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