Review by Booklist Review
In this companion to Hot Rod Hamster (2010), Hamster's friends are planning a surprise party for the lovable rodent. On the morning of his birthday, his best friend, Dog, comes over and invites Hamster to join him on his errands. Hamster grows more despondent with each stop, confident his friend has forgotten his special day. What he doesn't notice in each two-page spread is that his mouse friends are secretly buying things for his party at each stop. This sweet, rhyming story is accompanied by vibrant, cartoon-style illustrations and has all the elements of a good, diverting read. And the birthday theme? Well, that's icing on the cake.--Sawyer, Linda Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
It's Hamster's birthday, but his best friend Dog seems to have forgotten. Hamster accompanies him on errands, including stopping at a bakery, as well as toy and party stores. At each stop, the hefty bulldog pretends to shop for himself, but is actually in cahoots with three mice keeping tabs on what Hamster wants. Lord uses a rhyme scheme similar to that in Hot Rod Hamster to describe the items in each store: "Spin toys, glow toys, wind it up and go toys./ Soft toys, hard toys, ride it through the yard toys. Which would you choose?" Just as Hamster becomes despondent, his friends greet him with a lively celebration. Those who miss the clues the first time, should enjoy being privy to them upon rereading. Ages 2-6. (Aug.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-The small creature featured in Hot Rod Hamster (Scholastic, 2010) is back, and it's his birthday. He hopes for a new riding toy but what he really wants is simply for his friends to remember his special day. Tagging along with Dog on his errands, Hamster begins to lose hope. But in the background, readers see all of his friends rallying around the birthday effort as the text chants: "Games, check. Hats, check. Pinata and some bats, check. Plates, check. Spoons, check. Streamers and balloons, check. Which would you choose?" Loud, exaggerated acrylics burst off the pages, and the plump, cuddly characters look like stuffed animals come to life. Children will enjoy the opportunity to participate and make choices throughout the book leading up to Hamster's surprise party.-Julie Roach, Cambridge Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
