Patrick and the not so perfect party

Gr 1--2--Patrick is a young perfectionist who loves to cook and plan parties. To celebrate his birthday, Patrick wants to create a perfect event and asks his brother Russ to type the invitations, encouraging his friends to dress up as their favorite food. Unfortunately, his brother makes a mistake on the invitations, and his friends all arrive as their favorite foot. What turns out to be a merry mix-up, instead causes Patrick a great deal of dismay, leading him to tell his parents that his favorite thing about the party is when it is over. In a tightly paced text and borne out in scene after scene, over the next year, Patrick plans the perfect tea party for his next birthday, encouraging his friends to wear the perfect hats. Although he triple checks his invitations to be sure there are no mistakes, somehow his friends arrive wearing their favorite cats. Vibrant illustrations provide a festive atmosphere throughout the story and comically illustrate Patrick's ensuing frustration at the chaos caused by the miscommunications. It is unclear whether or not Patrick learns to embrace the less-than-perfect situations that arise, but it just goes to show, the best laid plans do not always go our way, and that message may resonate for conscientious young perfectionists. Patrick and his family have dark skin in various shades. VERDICT Not only is it nice to a see a boy doing the party-planning, but it's good to see a child being a fusspot in a low-stakes situation, since that's where almost all childhood disappointments start. Recommended only for larger collections.--Jessica Marie

A young boy with perfectionist tendencies throws a birthday party. Patrick loves cooking; he's meticulous in his slicing and dicing, and the meals he whips up for his parents and his brother, Russ, meet with lip-smacking approval. He's just as careful with his preparations for his upcoming birthday party. Patrick gets precisely the decorations and party menu he wants, and Russ types up the invitations as Patrick dictates: Guests are requested to dress as their favorite food. But Patrick's bewildered when nobody shows up to the party in food garb. Uh-oh. Instead of "favorite food," Russ typed "favorite foot." No wonder guests came as socks, skates, and "sparkly toenails." For Patrick, the best part of the party is when it finally ends. Afterward, Dad compliments the tea Patrick blended; over the next year, Patrick lovingly works on the perfect pot of tea. Next year's party theme? A tea party! Guests are invited "to wear a fancy hat." Will they? Hint: Russ makes another typo. Children will laugh over the hilarious ending; indeed, they'll giggle their way through this uproarious book--and perhaps realize that learning to be a bit flexible can be a lot of fun. The colorful illustrations are a dynamic hoot, and the costumes will spark great ideas. Plump, curly-haired Patrick and his family are brown-skinned; note his spiffy green-and-yellow-striped eyeglasses. Guests are racially diverse; one uses a wheelchair. Maybe not a perfect party, but a perfectly entertaining read; no special invitation needed. (Picture book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.