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松鼠的生日宴會
松鼠寫了一整天的邀請函，
風把信吹進土撥鼠、蚯蚓地底的家門口，
信飛向大海，抹香鯨、海獅和海豚，都受到邀請。
第二天，回信實在太多了，沒有動物說不來。
有的動物不會寫字，或者忘了怎麼寫「我會來」，
他們大吼大叫、嘰嘰啾啾，連螢火蟲都發出小亮片回信了。
松鼠要為熊烘焙大大的蜂蜜蛋糕，為犀牛烤青草蛋糕，
松鼠想了很久，才決定用小氣泡為蜻蜓做一個泡泡蛋糕……
甲蟲想要一身雪白出席宴會，蜥蜴要帶一頂紫色的軟帽，
烏龜特地在龜殼上加ㄧ件火紅背心，豪豬背上的每ㄧ根刺上都要戴上藍色帽子……
松鼠的生日宴會終於開始了，大家真的都會來嗎？
現在已經過了中午，卻沒有半個客人來……
萬一他們忘了松鼠的生日怎麼辦？還是他們最後都說不來了……
風把信吹進土撥鼠、蚯蚓地底的家門口，
信飛向大海，抹香鯨、海獅和海豚，都受到邀請。
第二天，回信實在太多了，沒有動物說不來。
有的動物不會寫字，或者忘了怎麼寫「我會來」，
他們大吼大叫、嘰嘰啾啾，連螢火蟲都發出小亮片回信了。
松鼠要為熊烘焙大大的蜂蜜蛋糕，為犀牛烤青草蛋糕，
松鼠想了很久，才決定用小氣泡為蜻蜓做一個泡泡蛋糕……
甲蟲想要一身雪白出席宴會，蜥蜴要帶一頂紫色的軟帽，
烏龜特地在龜殼上加ㄧ件火紅背心，豪豬背上的每ㄧ根刺上都要戴上藍色帽子……
松鼠的生日宴會終於開始了，大家真的都會來嗎？
現在已經過了中午，卻沒有半個客人來……
萬一他們忘了松鼠的生日怎麼辦？還是他們最後都說不來了……
96 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
6 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
September 17, 2009
My mother likes to say that "cute is a defense mechanism". That there are creatures in this world that need to be cute in order to stay alive. I agree with this, but I'd argue that there are different kinds of cute out there. There's the saccharine sugary stuff that makes your teeth hurt for a week. There's the instantaneous cute that is so mesmerizing you're actually afraid to look away. And then there's the quiet, understated cute that charms you with its intricacy and delicate wit. How's that for a segue, eh? Well, how else am I supposed to introduce to you what essentially boils down to one of the strangest and most delightful children's imports I've seen in a long long time? The Danes have been at it again. This time they've conjured up a fellow by the name of Toon Tellegen (why don't we ever name our kids "Toon"?) who for the last 25 years has written more than 300 stories about a little world full of animals. And so we end up with a book that feels like an old friend the first time you turn one of its pages. Like coming home again.
In The Squirrel's Birthday and Other Parties, Mr. Tellegen has written nine stories about the animal denizens of his little world and their various parties. In the first and longest of these a squirrel throws himself a birthday party and creates a huge array of delicious cakes for all the guests (a water cake for the dragonfly, an algae cake for the pike, a small moldy willow cake for a woodworm, etc.). Subsequent stories tell of other parties, both big and little. There is "The Set Table" where squirrel and ant stumble across a delicious table set up by a host so shy he won't reveal himself to his uninvited guests. Or "The Costume Party" where squirrel's gift for costuming proves to be his downfall, leading to an inspired solution. Each story is accompanied by a multitude of delightful little color illustrations. By the time you end, you'll sigh and wonder how it is that you no longer have any more stories to enjoy.
Back up, you. I'm going to generalize for a second here. Danish children's literature. Now now! I'm not saying anything bad about it! I just want to point out that sometimes Americans don't... well... don't exactly get it. Take the case of The Swan's Child by Dutch Cooper. I liked it and thought it was fun, but Americans got a little weirded out by this tale of a baby who appears on the back of a swan and is raised by a cadre of animals. We wonder why there aren't more foreign imports gracing our nation's shelves and the only answer I can give is that sometimes the books coming in have an entirely different flavor from our day-to-day fare. We Americans don't know how to handle this, so we reject `em en masse. So really, one of the most remarkable things about The Squirrel's Birthday is that though it feels different from the bulk of the schlock out there, it's infinitely relatable and lovely. Translator Martin Cleaver has done a stand up job at capturing the flavor of the writing. What could have come off as merely weird now feels like a contemporary successor to Milne's Pooh tales, more than anything else.
This is a safe world. As the Introduction says of its author, "He created a world where there is only one forest, one river, one ocean, and one oak tree." It's the kind of world small enough for a child to feel comfortable in. The animals would sooner eat their party hats than one another. Misunderstandings are few and far between, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of stuff going on. It just happens to be on a low-key level. One where the biggest fret in a day will be over whether or not you have made enough gigantic cakes for all your party guests.
For some of you the name "Ahlberg" will elicit sighs of comfort and respect. You may cast your mind back and find yourself thinking of Janet and Allen Ahlberg who brought into this world The Jolly Postman amongst other charming fare. Charm must be genetic then since it has trickled down into this, their daughter, and through her into the illustrations for this book. Ahlberg spots Tellegen's tales with tiny pen and ink watercolored images. Infinite care is taken so that they enhance each storyline, never overwhelming it or distracting from it. They're like the chocolate chips in a cookie. Little bursts of sweetness that make you appreciate the final product all the more. You cannot read this book and understand how anyone but Ahlberg could have illustrated it. She is the E.H. Shepard of the 21st century.
In her art, Ahlberg takes as much care in what she does include as in what she doesn't. Snail's home (on his back) is akin to Snoopy's doghouse in those old Peanuts cartoons or Oscar the Grouch's garbage can. An infinite amount of space in a tiny package. In one story snail decides to renovate his shell with an extra floor and a balcony. The story is pretty silly but straightforward, so it's interesting to note that Ahlberg makes the executive decision not to show the finished shell at all. Instead she gets immensely coy. You see a branch from a tree next to a handsaw and a tool box. Turn the page and all the animals are at the bottom of the left-hand side while giraffe pokes his head from the right-hand side (presumable while standing on snail's new second floor off-camera, so to speak). At other times we read about impossible dance partners (a whale and a seagull?), and in each case Ahlberg finds a way to keep you intrigued without ever feeling cheated.
Are Tellegen's books too sophisticated for children? Rarely. A story about a grasshopper invited to a posh party who purchases a speck of dust "worth a fortune", does this so that he may enter the party and then carelessly brush the dust from his coat. A delicious cake appears, but with a note saying that the only person who eats it must be "someone who doesn't feel like cake." I hesitate to say that the stories bring to mind The Little Prince because I feel like they're more child-friendly than that, but there's certainly a similar mindset about children and the degree to which they can understand a story. I won't go crazy and say that this book is for all kids, but for some it will be a tiny treasure that some will choose to remember for years to come. The Squirrel's Birthday and Other Parties is the perfect way to introduce children to this already established author. Here's hoping we see far more of these books in the English language translated for our amusement. A jewel.
Ages 4-9
In The Squirrel's Birthday and Other Parties, Mr. Tellegen has written nine stories about the animal denizens of his little world and their various parties. In the first and longest of these a squirrel throws himself a birthday party and creates a huge array of delicious cakes for all the guests (a water cake for the dragonfly, an algae cake for the pike, a small moldy willow cake for a woodworm, etc.). Subsequent stories tell of other parties, both big and little. There is "The Set Table" where squirrel and ant stumble across a delicious table set up by a host so shy he won't reveal himself to his uninvited guests. Or "The Costume Party" where squirrel's gift for costuming proves to be his downfall, leading to an inspired solution. Each story is accompanied by a multitude of delightful little color illustrations. By the time you end, you'll sigh and wonder how it is that you no longer have any more stories to enjoy.
Back up, you. I'm going to generalize for a second here. Danish children's literature. Now now! I'm not saying anything bad about it! I just want to point out that sometimes Americans don't... well... don't exactly get it. Take the case of The Swan's Child by Dutch Cooper. I liked it and thought it was fun, but Americans got a little weirded out by this tale of a baby who appears on the back of a swan and is raised by a cadre of animals. We wonder why there aren't more foreign imports gracing our nation's shelves and the only answer I can give is that sometimes the books coming in have an entirely different flavor from our day-to-day fare. We Americans don't know how to handle this, so we reject `em en masse. So really, one of the most remarkable things about The Squirrel's Birthday is that though it feels different from the bulk of the schlock out there, it's infinitely relatable and lovely. Translator Martin Cleaver has done a stand up job at capturing the flavor of the writing. What could have come off as merely weird now feels like a contemporary successor to Milne's Pooh tales, more than anything else.
This is a safe world. As the Introduction says of its author, "He created a world where there is only one forest, one river, one ocean, and one oak tree." It's the kind of world small enough for a child to feel comfortable in. The animals would sooner eat their party hats than one another. Misunderstandings are few and far between, but that doesn't mean there isn't a lot of stuff going on. It just happens to be on a low-key level. One where the biggest fret in a day will be over whether or not you have made enough gigantic cakes for all your party guests.
For some of you the name "Ahlberg" will elicit sighs of comfort and respect. You may cast your mind back and find yourself thinking of Janet and Allen Ahlberg who brought into this world The Jolly Postman amongst other charming fare. Charm must be genetic then since it has trickled down into this, their daughter, and through her into the illustrations for this book. Ahlberg spots Tellegen's tales with tiny pen and ink watercolored images. Infinite care is taken so that they enhance each storyline, never overwhelming it or distracting from it. They're like the chocolate chips in a cookie. Little bursts of sweetness that make you appreciate the final product all the more. You cannot read this book and understand how anyone but Ahlberg could have illustrated it. She is the E.H. Shepard of the 21st century.
In her art, Ahlberg takes as much care in what she does include as in what she doesn't. Snail's home (on his back) is akin to Snoopy's doghouse in those old Peanuts cartoons or Oscar the Grouch's garbage can. An infinite amount of space in a tiny package. In one story snail decides to renovate his shell with an extra floor and a balcony. The story is pretty silly but straightforward, so it's interesting to note that Ahlberg makes the executive decision not to show the finished shell at all. Instead she gets immensely coy. You see a branch from a tree next to a handsaw and a tool box. Turn the page and all the animals are at the bottom of the left-hand side while giraffe pokes his head from the right-hand side (presumable while standing on snail's new second floor off-camera, so to speak). At other times we read about impossible dance partners (a whale and a seagull?), and in each case Ahlberg finds a way to keep you intrigued without ever feeling cheated.
Are Tellegen's books too sophisticated for children? Rarely. A story about a grasshopper invited to a posh party who purchases a speck of dust "worth a fortune", does this so that he may enter the party and then carelessly brush the dust from his coat. A delicious cake appears, but with a note saying that the only person who eats it must be "someone who doesn't feel like cake." I hesitate to say that the stories bring to mind The Little Prince because I feel like they're more child-friendly than that, but there's certainly a similar mindset about children and the degree to which they can understand a story. I won't go crazy and say that this book is for all kids, but for some it will be a tiny treasure that some will choose to remember for years to come. The Squirrel's Birthday and Other Parties is the perfect way to introduce children to this already established author. Here's hoping we see far more of these books in the English language translated for our amusement. A jewel.
Ages 4-9
August 29, 2018
4 sao.
Vì thấy đánh giá cao quá và ai cũng khen nên mình mua về luôn cả bộ 4 cuốn rồi mới đọc :). Và đọc xong cuốn đầu tiên này mới biết cuốn sách thiếu nhi này đúng là dành cho thiếu nhi :). Hoặc những ai có tâm hồn mơ mộng như trẻ thơ mới thấy thú vị khi đọc nó.
Tác giả hẳn cũng là một người mơ mộng như thế mới có thể nghĩ ra những ý tưởng hết sức đáng yêu như trong sách. Còn gì đáng yêu như câu chuyện về chú Sóc viết thư mời muông thú đến dự sinh nhật mình, rồi quá trình chuẩn bị với đủ các loại bánh dành riêng cho từng loài vật mà chỉ có trong trí tưởng tượng bay bổng của trẻ con.
Hay đáng yêu hơn gấp bội là buổi tiệc hóa trang của các loài, nơi mà chỉ có trí tưởng tượng vô tận của bọn trẻ mới có thể nghĩ ra việc chuột chũi hóa trang thành tôm hùm, gấu "cosplay" cá sấu, hay hươu cao cổ vận các thứ "phụ tùng" giả làm thiên nga. Cộng hưởng với những ý tưởng tuyệt vời đó là tranh minh họa màu quá sức đáng yêu, không thể nào hợp hơn được nữa.
Tuy nhiên đối tượng của cuốn sách này cũng chỉ giới hạn ở lứa tuổi thiếu nhi, nó chỉ gồm những mẩu chuyện ngắn và rất ngắn, gợi lên những ý tưởng ngộ nghĩnh, trong sáng để trẻ con mang vào giấc mơ của mình nên kết thúc mỗi truyện khá cụt, không dẫn đến đâu cả. Nếu đòi hỏi nhiều hơn thế có thể sẽ thấy thất vọng khi đọc.
Chủ đề cuốn này nằm ở tựa sách: các buổi tiệc tưng bừng ở trong rừng, là cuốn đầu tiên của cặp tác giả - họa sĩ này mình đọc, và nó cũng mở ra cánh cửa đến vùng đất vừa lạ kỳ vừa quen thuộc mà ở đó ta thấy mình nhỏ lại như hồi bé thơ.
Vì thấy đánh giá cao quá và ai cũng khen nên mình mua về luôn cả bộ 4 cuốn rồi mới đọc :). Và đọc xong cuốn đầu tiên này mới biết cuốn sách thiếu nhi này đúng là dành cho thiếu nhi :). Hoặc những ai có tâm hồn mơ mộng như trẻ thơ mới thấy thú vị khi đọc nó.
Tác giả hẳn cũng là một người mơ mộng như thế mới có thể nghĩ ra những ý tưởng hết sức đáng yêu như trong sách. Còn gì đáng yêu như câu chuyện về chú Sóc viết thư mời muông thú đến dự sinh nhật mình, rồi quá trình chuẩn bị với đủ các loại bánh dành riêng cho từng loài vật mà chỉ có trong trí tưởng tượng bay bổng của trẻ con.
Hay đáng yêu hơn gấp bội là buổi tiệc hóa trang của các loài, nơi mà chỉ có trí tưởng tượng vô tận của bọn trẻ mới có thể nghĩ ra việc chuột chũi hóa trang thành tôm hùm, gấu "cosplay" cá sấu, hay hươu cao cổ vận các thứ "phụ tùng" giả làm thiên nga. Cộng hưởng với những ý tưởng tuyệt vời đó là tranh minh họa màu quá sức đáng yêu, không thể nào hợp hơn được nữa.
Tuy nhiên đối tượng của cuốn sách này cũng chỉ giới hạn ở lứa tuổi thiếu nhi, nó chỉ gồm những mẩu chuyện ngắn và rất ngắn, gợi lên những ý tưởng ngộ nghĩnh, trong sáng để trẻ con mang vào giấc mơ của mình nên kết thúc mỗi truyện khá cụt, không dẫn đến đâu cả. Nếu đòi hỏi nhiều hơn thế có thể sẽ thấy thất vọng khi đọc.
Chủ đề cuốn này nằm ở tựa sách: các buổi tiệc tưng bừng ở trong rừng, là cuốn đầu tiên của cặp tác giả - họa sĩ này mình đọc, và nó cũng mở ra cánh cửa đến vùng đất vừa lạ kỳ vừa quen thuộc mà ở đó ta thấy mình nhỏ lại như hồi bé thơ.
January 22, 2022
Südamlik ja helge raamat. Kiidan ka Regina Lukk-Toompere illustratsioone.
January 10, 2022
Tellegen (ja ka Vahur Aabrams Tellegeni tõlkijana) oskab suurepäraselt sõnu seada ja poeetilisi lauseid luua, aga lugude sisu ja mõte jääb mulle kättesaamatuks.
January 15, 2019
A gentle, sweet series of stories for young readers from a Dutch author, featuring animals and insects, fish, whales and birds. There writing is sometimes a bit twee for me but the illustrations carried me along. Though the book is the perfect size for young hands to hold I found myself wishing for the book to be larger so I could see the illustrations in all their glory. In the mold of the Detective Gordon books but with an expanded cast of characters.
Read
September 16, 2018The illustrations are adorable! So sweet! Too bad the stories don't live up to them. They're an odd bunch of little stories that don't really have a point. Or an ending. Or go anywhere as a whole. Or are even interesting. Too bad.
October 3, 2018
I loved this. Varied colors and texts- very visually appealing. I liked the vocabulary usage. Readability is great also. Very creative and perfect bedtime story collection for young children
Recommended
Recommended
August 26, 2016
Loved this - must get the others that have been translated.
The world needs lots more sweet gentleness like this.
The world needs lots more sweet gentleness like this.
December 25, 2020
Thích lắm, muốn bộ truyện này mãi không hết.
September 8, 2020
I can't help but bring how this book's illustration what makes it so charming. Jessica Ahlberg, thank you for bring the cuteness of the story come to life!
As for the story, Toon Tellegen has a massive imagination for a said doctor wanna be. This is an encouragement, everyone, do not stop imagining! The stories are separated each from the chapter but somehow the animals are still related. They are bounded with cakes, party, and friendship. Some of the stories don't make sense but that's the beauty of it. It's fun reading this. I have my favourites like 'The Rhinoceros Wish List' and 'The Whale and The Seagull'. Its story was simple yet it has a depth for the adult world for me. However, some stories ended with no sense that makes the story looks like a bunch of nonsense beautiful world put together.
As for the story, Toon Tellegen has a massive imagination for a said doctor wanna be. This is an encouragement, everyone, do not stop imagining! The stories are separated each from the chapter but somehow the animals are still related. They are bounded with cakes, party, and friendship. Some of the stories don't make sense but that's the beauty of it. It's fun reading this. I have my favourites like 'The Rhinoceros Wish List' and 'The Whale and The Seagull'. Its story was simple yet it has a depth for the adult world for me. However, some stories ended with no sense that makes the story looks like a bunch of nonsense beautiful world put together.
July 1, 2021
I first heard of Toon Tellegen while watching the excellent Belgian TV show Professor T. I looked him up and ordered this book, which is an absolute delight. Tellegen's books for children are written in a sweet and charming way, without being cloying or saccharine. The illustrations by Jessica Ahlberg are gorgeous. While Tellegen's other children's books are available to order online, their prices vary from reasonable to ludicrous, but I highly recommend them, even if you're a (supposed) adult.
November 7, 2023
I adored this book. It was lent to me by a colleague who thought I would enjoy it, and she was right. It is a bizarre and wonderful collection of stories, enjoyable for children and adults. The illustrations are a nice touch, and really bring the stories to life, helping you envision the more bizarre aspects. I think my favourite story is about the whale and the seagull.
September 25, 2022
Adorable illustrations to a set of quirky children's tales. We absolutely loved the squirrel's birthday story the best. The others were hit or miss, but they are all sweet. I only wish there were female characters as well.
November 28, 2022
A delightful book of short stories and adorable illustrations to go with it. The author used to invent these stories and tell them to his daughter at bedtime and has since decided to write them down and publish them. A unique reading escape from the real world. Recommended for any age.
March 17, 2025
LOVE EVERY PAGE!!
The illustrations are super sweet and every little chapter is a story in itself.
We're big nature-lovers and I have a daughter who loves to draw little detailed pictures.
We pour over these pages together and note all the intricate details.
The illustrations are super sweet and every little chapter is a story in itself.
We're big nature-lovers and I have a daughter who loves to draw little detailed pictures.
We pour over these pages together and note all the intricate details.
January 7, 2020
Love love love love love. Wonderful for both kids and adults. The illustrations are just divine. They add the perfect touch.
March 21, 2020
Charming, although this one felt a little more repetitive (cakes and parties and dancing) than “Letters to Anyone and Everyone”.
April 17, 2021
Birthday parties are all about celebrating your loved ones, enjoying some music, dancing, eating lots of cake, and sometimes dressing up too - and this book brings it all together with the sweetest animals ever. Another amazing demonstration of Tellegen's unique skill with words and imagination, and Ahlberg's way of portraying that fantastic world and its dwellers.
March 18, 2022
Loomalood metsas. Pikimas loos teeb halva mäluga orav oma sünnipäevapeo ettevalmistusi ning viib peo ka suurejooneliselt läbi. Ka mitmes teises loos jutustatakse peost või tortidest.
July 4, 2023
I really wanted to like this. It looked really cute, and I really wanted to like it. But truthfully, I was really bored. Hence, my eventual decision to DNF
January 4, 2024
Đọc giải trí nhẹ nhàng, không cần suy nghĩ. Truyện thiếu nhi, mơ mộng, cổ điển.
March 18, 2024
Once again, weird–delightfully so and confusingly so–and overall a fun journey.
January 18, 2025
Such a sweet collection of stories with many references to cakes, birthdays, friendship, and the feeling of wonder.
October 9, 2025
Dễ thương và ấm lòng.
October 22, 2025
*Boek voor school*
January 3, 2026
// 2026
First read of the year! I found some of the endings of the stories less satisfactory than I did before but this was still a charming read and one that I enjoyed thoroughly. I read "The Seagull and the Whale" out loud for Ethan this morning and sent him photos of the illustrations, because the image of a seagull and a whale dancing was so lovely to me.
// 2023 (3)
It is Saturday. The parents are out. The brother is in his den. My sister and I have nothing to do but lie in bed ("MY bed," she insisted, "because it's better." This sentiment was repeated at least three more times very smugly) and read together. Sister insisted on borrowing Frodo (my Kobo) to read The Scarlet Pimpernel, a book I didn't think would interest eleven-year-olds, so I passed it to her and ended up rereading this little gem again :)
Throwback to 2020, when I paid a silly amount of money to buy three Toon Tellegen books off of an American second hand book website because I loved this first one so much! My sister loved them. She still has them. It was worth it.
// 2020 (2)
read to my little sister during the latest family expedition to the Island and SHE loved it, too :)
// 2020 (1)
another family expedition (alas), and another lovely book to add to my list of favourite books. I loved the illustrations (especially of the squirrel's cakes! and the whale's costume) and the short stories were all charming, and rather touching (also. I LOVED the personification of night). this book was a delight :) I'd love to read his other books, but they're quite difficult to procure, from both libraries and stores.....
First read of the year! I found some of the endings of the stories less satisfactory than I did before but this was still a charming read and one that I enjoyed thoroughly. I read "The Seagull and the Whale" out loud for Ethan this morning and sent him photos of the illustrations, because the image of a seagull and a whale dancing was so lovely to me.
// 2023 (3)
It is Saturday. The parents are out. The brother is in his den. My sister and I have nothing to do but lie in bed ("MY bed," she insisted, "because it's better." This sentiment was repeated at least three more times very smugly) and read together. Sister insisted on borrowing Frodo (my Kobo) to read The Scarlet Pimpernel, a book I didn't think would interest eleven-year-olds, so I passed it to her and ended up rereading this little gem again :)
Throwback to 2020, when I paid a silly amount of money to buy three Toon Tellegen books off of an American second hand book website because I loved this first one so much! My sister loved them. She still has them. It was worth it.
// 2020 (2)
read to my little sister during the latest family expedition to the Island and SHE loved it, too :)
// 2020 (1)
another family expedition (alas), and another lovely book to add to my list of favourite books. I loved the illustrations (especially of the squirrel's cakes! and the whale's costume) and the short stories were all charming, and rather touching (also. I LOVED the personification of night). this book was a delight :) I'd love to read his other books, but they're quite difficult to procure, from both libraries and stores.....
October 29, 2009
I know I am probably in the minority here but I rather enjoyed this little book. The illustrations were simple and beautiful. The stories at times had to be re-read because they have been translated. The way the story is developed is so different from the way American writers write. I felt like I was sitting in a proper English school listening to a tale. Some of the words were definately too difficult for younger children. My 8th graders didn't understand they writing because they seemed almost unfinished. Having said that let me say the following: My grand-daughter came to visit on the day I was reading this book. She will let me read anything to her, cereal boxes, menues, you get the idea. She popped up on the couch and asked me to read the story I was on "The Set Table". As I finshed I prepared to talk to her about the story, she is only 3 1/2 years old. Before I could say anything she asked me if the dragonfly was shy? I asked her why she thought he was shy and she said, he didn't eat with the ant. Now I know that my grand-daughter is not like many. She has been using words like "plethora", etc. for over a year. But if she could get that from the one story it makes me wonder if all it takes is reading to our children from the time they are born and talking to them about the stories before they can even talk to give them the head start on books like this? I would give this book a 4 out of 5. I have a friend at school who reads things like this to her daughter and I will pass it on to her. I know she and her daughter will find it as charming as I did.
August 9, 2016
We read both the Squirrel's Party book and the Letters to Anyone by Tellegen/Ahlberg. The illustrations! SO charming! I couldn't stop looking. The stories are quirky to our ears and we were pretty mystified at first. Many of the stories seem quite unresolved. But once we read a bit more, we got used to it and really started to like the stories. I would recommend reading the Letters book first because the bits are short. In the Squirrel Pary book the first story is pretty long and it ends in an unexpected way so you are pretty invested in wanting an ending and you don't get one. Anyway - that is all to say I'd read these again though I don't think my daughter would request them again. I'd buy a book just based on those illustrations though.
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March 19, 2011
As with "Letter's to Anyone and Everyone," this book is a gem. My 6 and 3 year old girls loved it, but it is more than a children's book. It is somber and philosophical and delightful. And the accompanying illustrations are perfect, which highlights the rich poetic imagery such as cakes made of water, Night literally "strolling" along, and a whale and a seagull dancing at a heart-warming beach party. And it also contains the answer to the question: what is a speck of dust worth? The answer: A fortune! I love it!
November 3, 2015
I read this because it appeared on a list for young, strong readers. It was strange, whimsy, and delightful. My favorite story was the first one, "The Squirrel's Birthday." The others were a little odd and not entirely resolved, but that's part of the magic. I truly enjoyed this book because it reminded me of the magic in children's books.
Favorite quote(s):
Dear Whale,
I'm not sure if you exist, but I'm inviting you to my party anyway. Tomorrow, on the beach. If you exist, will you come?
The Seagull
Favorite quote(s):
Dear Whale,
I'm not sure if you exist, but I'm inviting you to my party anyway. Tomorrow, on the beach. If you exist, will you come?
The Seagull
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