Review by New York Times Review
Every preschool birthday party has its crier. By the time kids get to grade school, every birthday has its meanie as well. In this early reader, "It was Dana's birthday and she could do whatever she liked." Yes, she is a bully and a brat. Despite the heavy subject matter, the story remains lightly comic, assisted by Schneider's snappy illustrations. Dana doesn't exactly repent and reform; mostly, she lets readers draw their own lessons from her misdeeds. PAMELA PAUL ONLINE A slide show of this week's illustrated books at nytimes.com/books.
Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [July 2, 2013]
Review by Booklist Review
Dana's birthday has gone to her head. Because it's her Special Day, Dana could do whatever she liked, which includes calling Anthony a name ( Ickaborse ), pinching him, and then eating his dessert at lunch. But Dana gets her comeuppance when Anthony gives her a birthday gift: an elephant, whose toenails are painted pink and pink is Dana's favorite color. The elephant is a novelty at first, but soon it's taking over Dana's life by eating her food, sleeping in her bed, and riding her bicycle. Luckily, after apologizing to Anthony, he reminds her that it's Gertrude's birthday. Wonder what she's getting as a gift from Dana? In five short, humorous stories, with whimsical watercolor illustrations, this beginning chapter book by a Geisel Award winner should appeal to every new reader's sense of fun, especially if they've ever had a diva moment. And, really, who hasn't?--Kelley, Ann Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Dana's supercilious, selfish demeanor makes it clear that her behavior on her birthday is no different from her modus operandi on the other 364 days of the year. Imagine her surprise, then, when her most put-upon peer gives her a very large white elephant as a gift. "Dana would not have given a birthday present to someone who called her an ickaborse and pinched her and ate the dessert out of her lunch." But trying to be a conscientious pet owner results in sleepless nights and hungry days for Dana. Schneider (Tales for Very Picky Eaters) seems to draw inspiration from both O. Henry and Edward Gorey, with deadpan, dead-on writing and meticulously inked, elegantly styled watercolors (the lumbering pachyderm is quite a looker, its whiteness evoked through washes of icy pink and blue). What's more, he pulls off quite the hat trick: he serves justice, subtly (and quite cleverly) lets readers see another side to Dana, and brings the story to a close in a way that both makes amends and pays it forward, Gothic-style. Ages 6-9. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen Literary Management. (May) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-3-Dana is downright mean. Because she gets to do whatever she wants on her birthday, she pinches, takes her friend Anthony's dessert without asking, and name-calls. Dana is an ornery bully until Anthony gives her a white elephant with pink toenails as a gift. It needs endless love and attention, and Dana quickly learns to care about something other than herself. When another birthday girl needs to learn a lesson about how to act on her big day, Dana knows just what to give her. Schneider's watercolor, ink, and pencil illustrations have humor and sweetness: the cover art is hilarious and there is a lovely moment when Dana is depicted lying on a hill, exhausted, and the elephant's trunk is reaching around to take her sandwich. The small details in the artwork add to the character development; the ever-present Band-Aid on Dana's knee along with the horses and unicorns that decorate her room give readers insight into her personality. However, there are also oddities in the artwork: the vacant look in the children's circular eyes can be disconcerting. While this charming early chapter book is more a story about a girl and her pet than it is about birthday shenanigans, young readers are sure to enjoy it.-Laura Lutz, Pratt Institute, New York City (c) Copyright 2013. 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.
Review by Horn Book Review
Dana, a show-off and a bully, receives a white elephant for her birthday--literally and figuratively. At first she's thrilled, but as she struggles to take care of her pet she falls victim to a bully and begins feeling empathy for others. The illustrations ably support the short text, but overall the message in this chapter book for newly independent readers is rather confusing. (c) Copyright 2013. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Little Dana needs big lessons in kindness more than any birthday present--unless a present can teach her something, that is. She starts her special day wearing her favorite dress and eating her favorite breakfast, and then, because it's her birthday "and she could do whatever she liked," she teases a boy named Anthony. She calls him "ickaborse" and pinches him, and she eats his dessert after her own at school. She later receives many gifts at her party, but none compares with the present Anthony brings after her guests depart: "a big white elephant." Dana is overwhelmed by the gift's specialness and is determined to prove her worthiness of the creature, since, as she tells other children, "Not everyone deserves an elephant." Her dogged efforts result in exhaustion, and with it, Dana becomes a target for another mean girl's teasing. When audible hunger pangs plague her after she gives up her breakfast to the voracious elephant, for example, "Gertrude called her Grumble-Guts on the bus." The chagrined Dana talks with Anthony, who generously reminds her about Gertrude's coming birthday party, and it seems she's found another birthday girl who deserves an elephant. Throughout, Schneider's multimedia illustrations employ the same humorous, expressive line seen in his Geisel Awardwinning Tales for Very Picky Eaters (2011), delivering a remarkable package. A gift of a book for new readers. (Early reader. 6-9)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
