What do you think?
Rate this book
The Shindig Is Coming!
From award-winning children’s book author-illustrator Charise Mericle Harper comes a one-of-a-kind chapter book perfect for fans of the Narwhal and Jelly and Kondo & Kezumi series.
After receiving an urgent mountain-top message from Blue Jay, Mouse proclaims to all the woodland “The Shindig is coming!” The entire forest is soon abuzz with everyone asking the same What is a shindig? Meetings are held. Assumptions are made. Honey cake is served. Finally Bear declares the answer. A shindig is a party, which is just like a meeting only fun. Problem solved! . . . Or is it?
When the blue jay finally reaches the party-prepping crew, all that pep turns to panic. The blue jay's message wasn’t an invitation. It was a warning! THE SHINDIG IS COMING! Hooves, claws, and paws scatter when the mysterious forest visitors arrive at last. And opossum faints. Again.
Find out what Mouse heard, what Bear said, and what Opossum missed in The Shindig is Coming! Charise Mericle Harper’s hilarious storytelling and dynamic line art are on full display in this laugh-out-loud original chapter book for readers ages 7 and up.
After receiving an urgent mountain-top message from Blue Jay, Mouse proclaims to all the woodland “The Shindig is coming!” The entire forest is soon abuzz with everyone asking the same What is a shindig? Meetings are held. Assumptions are made. Honey cake is served. Finally Bear declares the answer. A shindig is a party, which is just like a meeting only fun. Problem solved! . . . Or is it?
When the blue jay finally reaches the party-prepping crew, all that pep turns to panic. The blue jay's message wasn’t an invitation. It was a warning! THE SHINDIG IS COMING! Hooves, claws, and paws scatter when the mysterious forest visitors arrive at last. And opossum faints. Again.
Find out what Mouse heard, what Bear said, and what Opossum missed in The Shindig is Coming! Charise Mericle Harper’s hilarious storytelling and dynamic line art are on full display in this laugh-out-loud original chapter book for readers ages 7 and up.
120 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2025
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 1, 2026
Book 1 of reading even more for my school library.
This book was….not for me. I added it to my pile based on a review by another elementary librarian, and maybe this would work better as a read aloud. The drawings are very cute and the story itself is cute, but that’s kind of it.
This book was….not for me. I added it to my pile based on a review by another elementary librarian, and maybe this would work better as a read aloud. The drawings are very cute and the story itself is cute, but that’s kind of it.
October 21, 2025
This actually was sooooo funny, lol. Reading lots of books for work lately!
January 10, 2026
3.5 stars
September 21, 2025
The humor and storytelling in this new book (early reader? Not really, picture book? extended text) is unsurprisingly superb, well-paced, and rich with nuance and humor. with the physical appearance of an early chapter book, this most certainly qualifies as a picture book run the essential role of the mostly-silhouette illustrations to achieve full meaning and such the humor. They invite rereading as an early reader or chapter book does not. The ample white space, text size, and line spacing make this easy on the eyes and satisfying to the heart.
The bottom line in this clever little tale is a sort of Chicken Little account, but in this case the coming disaster is a SHINDIG! The various animals each provide extended character development, making an ensemble cast rather than a single protagonist. I strongly recommend this for young audiences to explore ways in which book formats are suited to their purpose.
In this case, a basic picture book, even in the hands of a skilled writer like Harper, could not do justice to the complexity and pacing of this evening gathering. I particularly appreciated the many subtleties of nature that are blended into a clearly anthropomorphized situation. Animals that naturally prey upon and avoid each other are shown to come together for their common good. Their natures are respected (as in a grumbly, hungry bear, or that lovable opossum whose coping mechanism of fainting/playing dead makes him the most vulnerable of all). The charm of their shared concerns, competitive natures, individual differences, and that ominous SHINGDIG make for a modern day classic with strong potential for frequent re-readings and discussions.
The bottom line in this clever little tale is a sort of Chicken Little account, but in this case the coming disaster is a SHINDIG! The various animals each provide extended character development, making an ensemble cast rather than a single protagonist. I strongly recommend this for young audiences to explore ways in which book formats are suited to their purpose.
In this case, a basic picture book, even in the hands of a skilled writer like Harper, could not do justice to the complexity and pacing of this evening gathering. I particularly appreciated the many subtleties of nature that are blended into a clearly anthropomorphized situation. Animals that naturally prey upon and avoid each other are shown to come together for their common good. Their natures are respected (as in a grumbly, hungry bear, or that lovable opossum whose coping mechanism of fainting/playing dead makes him the most vulnerable of all). The charm of their shared concerns, competitive natures, individual differences, and that ominous SHINGDIG make for a modern day classic with strong potential for frequent re-readings and discussions.
August 20, 2025
I received an electronic ARC from Union Square Kids through Edelweiss+.
Mouse surprises the forest animals by shouting about a shindig that is coming. They react is a wide variety of ways but no one knows what a shindig is. Readers will love some of the guesses as the story moves forward. They'll also laugh as the Opossum faints every time danger is mentioned. The forest animals obviously care for each other and work together once Bear shares the definition of shindig. Mid-elementary readers will appreciate the fun and humor. A fun read aloud for families and classes as well as a read alone for kids.
Mouse surprises the forest animals by shouting about a shindig that is coming. They react is a wide variety of ways but no one knows what a shindig is. Readers will love some of the guesses as the story moves forward. They'll also laugh as the Opossum faints every time danger is mentioned. The forest animals obviously care for each other and work together once Bear shares the definition of shindig. Mid-elementary readers will appreciate the fun and humor. A fun read aloud for families and classes as well as a read alone for kids.
November 15, 2025
When Mouse hears the message from Blue Jay, she hurries to the forest clearing to spread the news: the shindig is coming! This, in turn, causes panic, delight, and confusion as the animals have no idea what it means. Bear, who loves dictionaries and is fond of explaining the word of the day, attempts to enlighten his neighbors by telling them it's a party. Stan the chicken (and the only animal with a real name) provides a continuous supply of baked goods which maintains Bear's non-threatening presence. During all this Opossum is always fainting because even a hint of danger is too much for her.
This is a joyful romp full of humor, vocabulary, and friendship.
This is a joyful romp full of humor, vocabulary, and friendship.
July 1, 2025
Great mix of humor and suspense paired with delightful illustrations that will appeal to newly independent readers.
August 29, 2025
This book has such a fun layout and illustrations. The fainting opossum is sure to get some laughs from kids. The story is a little light, but cute.
November 13, 2025
Super cute! Kept my five year old engaged as well as my ten year old.
Read
November 13, 2025It was funny, with quirky art and good vocabulary; but for me, the last third of the book just kind of felt like it lost it's way as a cohesive story.
January 20, 2026
Fun. Design, vocabulary, pace 5 stars. End a little flat.
January 30, 2026
Beautiful art, fun font, and great layout with fabulous vocabulary. It will be interesting to see how this book lends with readers.
February 5, 2026
Fun story and beautifully illustrated! This would make a great read aloud for 1st or 2nd grade. I love a story with uncommon words in it and it’s bumfuzzle for the win.
March 7, 2026
not very substantive but odd and delightful nonetheless
November 26, 2025
It was okay . . . super simple. Not much going on, a couple of funny gags. It ends in a disappointment and nothing is ever made of the bird's warning. But for my six and four year-olds, they enjoyed it well enough.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews