3 out of 4 stars
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Peter Rabbit’s Surprise Birthday Party is an illustrated children’s book written by Mary Elizabeth Kovar. Peter is looking forward to celebrating his eighth birthday with his family. He knows they will make the day special for him. What he doesn’t know is his parents are planning a surprise party and have invited all the other children in the neighborhood.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sweet book about a happy milestone that everyone loves to celebrate. In the midst of party preparations, Peter’s mother, Mrs. Rabbit, takes the time to bake a pie for a new family in the neighborhood. It is very heartwarming that she did something thoughtful for another family, especially during a hectic day. This simple act of kindness sets a good example for children. Also, Mrs. Rabbit’s friends help her with the party preparations, a nice display of teamwork and friendship.
The story is written in a simple and easy to understand style. There are no sophisticated words or long, overly detailed descriptions that might be a source of frustration for younger children. A colorful, striped border at the top and bottom of each page reinforces the light-hearted party theme.
There are cute touches throughout the story, such as the food Peter’s mother prepares for the surprise party. This could serve as a nice starting point for a discussion about what types of foods rabbits like to eat or other interesting facts about these animals. I also liked it when Peter stops by the pond to play with rocks and becomes covered in mud. It’s funny and realistic that a young boy would stop to play and get dirty on the way home from an errand.
Six full-page illustrations are included in this 21-page book. I particularly liked the picture of everyone hiding behind the furniture before Peter arrives; one child even hides under an area rug.
While the artwork is beautiful, there are not enough pictures to fully augment the story. Also, the artwork is not spread out evenly throughout the book. For example, there are seven pages of text in the beginning before another picture is shown. Extra illustrations would help children improve their understanding of various parts of the plot and enhance their reading experience. There are several scenes for which there are no pictures – for example, Peter playing with rocks by the pond, coming home with mud all over his clothes, looking for a missing rock, a wonderful birthday gift, etc. With a few more illustrations, kids would be able to savor the interesting details in addition to seeing the more general aspects of the story. It would also give them extra visual clues when they learn to read.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It is a quick, fun read with a positive message. Suitable for ages 3-8, the story would be a nice addition to any youngster’s bookshelf.
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Peter Rabbit's Surprise Birthday Party
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