Patrick and the Not So Perfect Party

by Anne Wynter, Shirley Hottier (Illustrator)

Overview

All Patrick wants for his birthday is a flawless FOOD party.
So why does Karter arrive dressed as a FOOT!?

From Ezra Jack Keats Award-Winner, Anne Wynter, this hilarious tale follows perfectionist Patrick as he learns a valuable lesson in being patient, embracing chaos, and finding the joy in going with the flow.

"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. A perfectly entertaining read." Kirkus Reviews


Patrick likes everything to be just-so, which is why he likes to cook. The meals he makes are always "exquisite," "delicious," and "absolutely perfect." So when his birthday rolls around, Patrick knows exactly what he wants to do. However, Patrick's big brother, Russ, is not perfect. When Russ makes a mistake on Patrick's party invitation, Patrick thinks his birthday is ruined. But is it?

Readers will delight in this warm celebration of self-expression, acceptance, and brotherly love written by Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning author, Anne Wynter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781499814477
Publisher:	little bee books
Publication date:	06/11/2024
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	35 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Anne Wynter is the Ezra Jack Keats Honor-winning author of Everybody in the Red Brick Building, One Big Day, and Hands On! She earned a degree in theatre from Washington University in St. Louis and penned a number of short plays that have been produced around the country. She currently lives in Austin, TX with her family.

Shirley Hottier is an award-winning French Edinburgh-based freelance illustrator and urban designer. She has a passion for promoting diversity as a way to celebrate her multiple cultures, through the warm, lively scenes and characters she crafts. With a dash of humor, her illustrations capture the small moments that make life beautiful.

Editorial Reviews

06/01/2024

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

School Library Journal

2024-03-23
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)

Kirkus Reviews