Happy Birthday to You, You Belong in a Zoo

by Diane deGroat, Diane deGroat (Illustrator)

Overview

That meanie Lewis always teases Gilbert. So why would Lewis invite Gilbert to his birthday party? Gilbert goes to the party armed with a cheerful grin, a brightly wrapped package–and a plan to get even for Lewis's rotten behavior. But this birthday has a much bigger surprise in store for Gilbert...

Join the New York Times best–selling character Gilbert the opposum and his friends and family in this heartwarming picture book about birthdays, bullies, and doing the right thing.

Ages: 4–8

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780060010294
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/23/2007
Series:	Gilbert and Friends Series
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	213,489
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Diane deGroat is the illustrator of more than 120 children's books and the author-illustrator of bestselling books about Gilbert, including Ants in Your Pants, Worms in Your Plants! (Gilbert Goes Green); April Fool! Watch Out at School!; Mother, You're the Best! (But Sister, You're a Pest!); Last One in Is a Rotten Egg!; and the New York Times bestseller Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink. Diane lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Diane deGroat is the illustrator of more than 120 children's books and the author-illustrator of bestselling books about Gilbert, including Ants in Your Pants, Worms in Your Plants! (Gilbert Goes Green); April Fool! Watch Out at School!; Mother, You're the Best! (But Sister, You're a Pest!); Last One in Is a Rotten Egg!; and the New York Times bestseller Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink. Diane lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Editorial Reviews

As in her prior tales starring Gilbert, deGroat's (Trick or Treat, Smell My Feet; Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink) latest title and plot are both sky-high in kid appeal. The amiable young opossum sings this take-off on the birthday tune as his mother drives him home from the store, where he has spitefully chosen a frying pan as a gift for Lewis, the class bully. Lewis has informed Gilbert that he received a birthday party invitation only because his mother made him send one to all the boys in the class ("And you better bring me a present, too, if you want any cake and ice cream," sneers the birthday boy). Readers, privy to Lewis's lunchroom and playground slights to earnest Gilbert, will likely applaud this choice of gift--until Lewis has a change of heart. DeGroat's watercolors capture Gilbert's changing moods perfectly: readers will especially feel for Gilbert as he makes eye contact with them, conveying sheer panic when gift-opening time arrives, dread when Lewis prepares to unwrap his present and tremendous relief when he realizes that Mom's surreptitious substitution for the frying pan has saved the day. With its credible take on kids' emotions and social exchanges, this wry tale sends a useful message to youngsters on both the giving and receiving ends of bullying. Ages 4-8. (Aug.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

What's the perfect present for the class meanie? Adorable opossum Gilbert finds out—and learns about friendship along the way.

People

Kim Hubbard