(2) PS There's plenty to do when a girl and her mother move to a new town, but after the novelty wears off, without a friend things get boring fast. Enter Scribbly, an imaginary stick dog drawn by our self-sufficient protagonist. "Scribbly was the bestest friend anyone could ask for." When the girl is invited to a birthday party where she doesn't know anyone, her mother tells her to leave Scribbly at home, but she "really really needed him." Scribbly not only attends but is the life of the party, nibbling cake, doing backflips, and befriending everyone. In short, he makes "being the new kid much easier." Pencil and watercolor illustrations combine the kid-art representation of Scribbly with the more realistic goings-on. Astute readers may pick up on the mother's facial expressions and develop a more nuanced interpretation of the girl's reliance on the imaginary friend to assuage anxiety and doubt. When she adopts a real dog from a shelter, the girl bridges the gap between the imaginary and real worlds and boosts her self-confidence. Scribbly is still around, but she's no longer dependent on him. Dogs, whether real or imagined, are a girl's best friend in this book that may soothe social anxieties over being the new kid.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2021

(2) K-3 Brett (whose many other Christmas titles include The Twelve Days of Christmas; Home for Christmas, rev. 11/11; and The Animals' Santa, rev. 11/14) pulls out all the stops for this lush and faithful retelling of ­Hoffmann's tale and Tchaikovsky's ­ballet, guiding readers through the story with clear visual references to the latter's music and the dances. Detailed watercolors on double-page spreads carry the plot, while narrative-filled borders show pertinent musical instruments and scraps of the score. Brett sets the story in a Russia filled with snowy exteriors and sumptuous scenes of the ballet's ­Christmas party, the dramatic ­vanquishing of the Mouse King, and the rest of Marie's magical adventures with the Nutcracker-turned-real-boy.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2021

(2) 1-3 Fox & Rabbit series. Illustrated by Gergely Dudás. Fox and Rabbit are back in their third series entry with five new stories, most of which center on throwing a ­birthday party for Sparrow that involves making "the biggest, roundest, yummiest pizza in the world." Animal friends from the previous books return to help and partake in the festivities, including Tortoise, who always arrives too late for any ­activity. This volume introduces a surprising new ­creature as well--Dragon--whom Fox and Rabbit nervously visit when they need help cooking that giant pizza. This large, purple fire-breather turns out to be harmless and lonely. Dragon has never even been to a birthday party, a situation immediately remedied. Each chapter is full of amusing situations and appealing characters taking care of one another and getting themselves into trouble despite their best intentions. Bright colors and soft, bubbly shapes make every creature, even the dragon, seem cuddly and soothing. The idyllic community offers a pleasant cartoon landscape to visit, where there is always a welcoming friend, something special to do, and something good to eat.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2021

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alison Czinkota. This festive book is filled with birthday-related goodies on every colorful page. Read about astrological signs, the Chinese zodiac, the "Celtic tree calendar," birth stones and flowers, and numerology. Discover birthday trivia, customs from different cultures, and random "weird and wonderful facts." The life of this party, however, is the "Month by Month: Calendars & Activities" section. A snippet of information about an event, holiday, or tradition is featured on every day of each month. Following the calendar page, a double-page spread highlights an activity, including crafts (make a gift bow out of junk mail), recipes (Brazilian birthday brigadeiros; mocktails), a party planner quiz, and how to say "Happy Birthday" in different languages. The festive candy-colored illustrations contribute to the celebratory mood.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(2) PS Ghost Gustavo is terribly shy, a problem compounded by the fact that the other monster kids can't see him. His attempts to appear/appeal to the others--disguising himself as a lampshade, a surfboard, a sheet--are funny but hopeless; it's only when he throws a Day of the Dead party at the cemetery and reveals his passion for the violin that the other monsters come to see him as he really is. While the logic of the story won't stand up to much scrutiny, Gustavo is a sympathetic protagonist, and the illustrations are filled with appealing monsters and witty details.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2020

(1) PS Translated by Yvette Ghione. "It's the start of a new day at 3 Maple Street. But not just any day--it's Little Rabbit's birthday!" Dubuc's straightforward text chronicles the hustle and bustle of the Rabbit family's preparations for Little Rabbit's party in their first-floor apartment. Youngsters can follow the Rabbits' activities in the clever cutaway illustration of the entire building on every spread, which means viewers are also treated to a peek inside six other apartments (plus an attic) and myriad intersecting visual story lines. Little Hedgehog is looking forward to his papa returning from a trip; Mr. Bear wakes up sick; Little Fox's family welcomes a new baby; the Cat family moves in on the third floor; and the Mouse triplets are causing chaos in their bedroom right below the apartment of Mr. Owl, who is having trouble sleeping as a result. But this delightful French import's detailed illustrations don't stop there--look for the bird family in a tree, a ghost in the attic, a house gnome, and more, including several fairy-tale references (most notably, a girl with yellow hair who climbs a ladder into the Fox family's apartment for a snack and a snooze while they're at the hospital--sound familiar?). Best-suited to one-on-one sharing or solitary perusal to catch all the minute action, this Richard Scarry–esque book, with its expressive and appealingly drawn animal characters, begs to be read multiple times.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

(3) 4-6 This book offers nine different magic-oriented ideas for fantastic parties: an Alchemists' Gathering, a Fairy Frolic, a Druid Halloween party, and more. For each party, the text suggests costumes, crafts, decorations, food, and games. Much care has gone into the look of the book (purportedly written by a 600-year-old wizard): thick, padded covers; sepia-toned pages; and fanciful illustrations. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(4) K-3 Translated by Edward Gauvin. A boy describes the day when his party-loathing parents finally throw him a birthday bash. They enlist the help of neighborhood problem-solver Mr. Ponzio, who lets things get somewhat out of hand (think hippo in the bathtub). The book's narrative arc is overcrowded (like the Snipperpots' house), but the retro-flavored mixed-media art is enchanting.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) PS In this festive counting book, a debonair pumpkin-headed host welcomes guests to a fancy twilight banquet. Numbers are woven into a rhyming text that alternates guests' introductions ("Lady Nightshade brings three jars of jelly to share") with atmospheric elements ("While four swooping bats fly through the air") up until "the clock strikes thirteen." Elegant watercolor and ink illustrations conjure the party's spooky sophistication.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(2) 1-3 Translated by Anna Golding. In the second book in this offbeat reluctant-reader-friendly series for the chapter-book set, young zombie Ghoulia must solve the mystery of Auntie Departed's disappearance from Crumbling Manor with the help of unexpected (and very grouchy) visitor Cousin Dilbert. As in Ghoulia, the appeal is in the attractive book design with frequent double-page spreads incorporating text into the colorful gothic-inspired illustrations.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(3) PS Illustrated by Betsy Lewin. Halloween humbug Farmer Brown leaves candy on the porch, and hangs a "DO NOT DISTURB" sign on the door. After hearing strange noises outside, he trembles under the covers. However, we know that his animals are hosting a Halloween bash. Well-paced text and appropriately shadowy illustrations assure listeners that the only foul thing afoot is a costumed fowl. The brief, sound effects–heavy text lends itself well to this new board-book format.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2013; September, 2019

(2) K-3 In this wacky, fact-packed addition to the Truth About series, straightforward informational prose provides a crash course on crocodile types, diet, reproduction, habitat, and more. The cartoonlike pen-and-ink illustrations tell their own story. Crocs and other creatures--including a party hat–wearing kid--are shown with speech bubbles in silly fictionalized scenarios, often cracking jokes about the factual content as they plan a birthday party for the child and newly hatched baby crocodiles. Reading list.

Reviewer: Elisa Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2019

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. There's no shortage of picture books about birthdays, but Ferry's ten "rules" for making the all-important birthday wish include silly loopholes, caveats, and digressions that should tickle both rule-followers and authority-questioners. It's a buoyantly told tale, and Lichtenheld's digitally enhanced pencil, watercolor, colored-pencil, and pastel illustrations featuring an all-animal cast capture the festive mood of a party where friends are in abundance and wishes always come true.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(2) PS Illustrated by Freya Blackwood. This Australian import begins by setting the scene: "There's going to be a party" for a baby's first birthday. A spare, lilting text introduces the guests with humor and warmth. As the party progresses, cheerful (and realistic) baby-sized mayhem ensues. The day ends with a bath, bedtime, and "sweet dreams" for the birthday baby. Inviting, scribbly pencil and watercolor-wash illustrations on generous white space allow for lots of audience engagement.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(3) PS Frank Asch Bear Book series. One Saturday, the pajama-wearing members of the Bear family enjoy their pancake breakfast so much, they decide to wear pajamas and eat pancakes all day. Their contagious enthusiasm inspires a town-wide celebration of Pancakes in Pajamas Day, with a bicycle parade and a party on the town square. The animals sport an amusing variety of patterned pajamas in Asch's signature flat, clean-lined illustrations for this cheery tale.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) K-3 In Biedrzycki's third tongue-in-cheek Breaking News picture book, local animals are beamed up to a UFO. TV reporter Chad Newsworthy provides live coverage of the event, complete with eyewitness interviews and a news ticker across the bottom of the dramatic digital illustrations. When the animals return to Earth--"with goody bags?!"--readers learn "we are not the only party animals in the universe!"

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) PS The plot of Charlip's (Fortunately!; Thirteen) very first book, here reissued, is simple: John invites his friends to a dress-up party; as the book unfolds, we see them all arrive, enjoy cake, and then depart. The variation in the costume choices is entertaining, and the page turns flow effortlessly. For Charlip collectors.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) YA Eighteen-year-old twins Sam and Ilsa each invite three surprise guests to a final dinner party at their grandmother's soon-to-be-sold apartment. In this fifth collaboration, Cohn and Levithan revisit their tried-and-true formula--NYC setting, two teens alternating narration--but with less success. This novel is too talky and gratuitously over-the-top (there's a snarky sock puppet guest), detracting from its thought-provoking musings on identity and relationships, hopes and fears.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(3) PS In Cousins's latest "first experiences" book, Penguin and Ostrich are getting married, and Maisy (and readers) learn the essentials of a wedding. From the ceremony to the party afterward, Maisy and her friends enjoy each special moment before the newlyweds embark on their honeymoon. Cousins's bold, cheerful gouache illustrations are well suited to a celebratory occasion full of love, confetti, dancing, and cake.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) PS Illustrated by Cinta Arribas. "It's my birthday. So boo! I hate all of you." The birthday girl unleashes what seems like a (hilariously) gratuitous torrent of rage, but as pages turn, her underlying insecurity peeks through ("How old am I now? I am always too little"). A brazen, totally-going-there picture book, with gangbusters red-and-purple art featuring people who are lumpy and incomplete, as if courtesy of a child's hand.

Reviewer: Nell Beram