Bradford Street Buddies: Block Party Surprise

by Jerdine Nolen, Michelle Henninger (Illustrator)

Overview

The neighborhood block party is today. Jada and Jamal Perkins are super excited. Their best friends, Carlita Garcia and Josh Cornell, are on their way over. Mr. Perkins promised them a BIG surprise. 

Thump! Thump! Thump!  

Bump! Bump! Bump! 

The surprise is thumping and bumping its way around the Perkinses’ backyard. What could it be? And how will the Bradford Street Buddies get a surprise that BIG to the block party?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544358638
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	09/01/2015
Series:	Green Light Readers Level 3
Pages:	48
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

JERDINE NOLEN is the author of the Bradford Street Buddies easy reader series and numerous picture books including Raising Dragons, Thunder Rose, Plantzilla, Harvey Potter's Balloon Farm, and Irene's Wish.

MICHELLE HENNINGER lives with her family in Arvada, Colorado, in the foothills of the Rocky  Mountains. She is the illustrator of  the Bradford Street Buddies easy reader series and The First Easter Day, a picture book by Jill Roman Lord.

Editorial Reviews

"Full-color, detailed watercollor illustrations show a welcome cast of ethnically diverse characters. This new offering is tailor-made for children who are ready for books they can read independently with confidence." —Kirkus "Ink-and-watercolor illustrations provide helpful visual cues while capturing the autumnal atmosphere and the distinct facial expressions of the multicultural cast...This approachable story will be rewarding for kids just getting into independent reading." —Booklist —

From the Publisher

11/01/2015
Gr 1–3—Jada Perkins and her twin brother, Jamal, are excited to be participating in the Bradford Street Fall Block Party, mainly because of the "big surprise" their dad has in store for them. After hearing a thumping sound, the twins look out the window and cannot believe their eyes. The backyard is full of mechanical dinosaurs! When their best friends Josh and Carlita arrive, the four kids work the controls and play with the robots until it's time to go set up for the party. But in the middle of all the preparations, bad news arrives when Mr. Perkins announces that the truck that was going to transport the dinosaurs to the party has broken down. The kids put their heads together and come up with wheeled solutions to getting each dinosaur to the party. The writing is solid and the plotline strong. Combine that with lively drawn ink and watercolor illustrations and multicultural friendships, and this chapter book is a first purchase for most collections. VERDICT An enjoyable read with broad appeal to independent readers.—Jennifer Steib Simmons, Anderson County Library, SC

School Library Journal

2015-06-10
Another friend-filled neighborhood event is in store for folks on Bradford Street in this new early-reader series. It's the annual fall block party, and twins Jada and Jamal Perkins are excited. Their dad has some sort of surprise planned. When they look out the window, they are thrilled to see their parents outside with four large robot dinosaurs! After learning how to work the controls, everyone is ready for the trip to the park, where the dinosaurs will undoubtedly be the hit of the party. But in the fourth and final chapter, the crew has a big problem: the truck carrying the dinosaurs has broken down, and there is no way to get them to the party. The kids put their heads together and come up with a clever idea to create a dinosaur parade. New readers might wonder why Mr. Perkins supplies such an unusual addition to a block party, but they will marvel at the cooperation and creativity of the youngsters and parents on Bradford Street. Full-color, detailed watercolor illustrations show a welcome cast of ethnically diverse characters. This new offering is tailor-made for children who are ready for books they can read independently with confidence. (Early reader. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews