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Fortunately
Go on a wonderfully wild adventure with Ned in this Classic Board Book edition of Fortunately from celebrated dancer, choreographer, and beloved author and illustrator Remy Charlip.
Fortunately, Ned was invited to a surprise party.
Unfortunately, the party was a thousand miles away.
Fortunately, a friend loaned Ned an airplane.
Unfortunately, the motor exploded.
What else could go wrong as Ned tries to get the party? Now available as a charming Classic Board Book, little ones will cheer as Ned’s luck turns from good to bad to good again. Featuring Remy Charlip’s bold, imaginative illustrations and spirited text, readers are in for a wonderfully wild adventure!
Fortunately, Ned was invited to a surprise party.
Unfortunately, the party was a thousand miles away.
Fortunately, a friend loaned Ned an airplane.
Unfortunately, the motor exploded.
What else could go wrong as Ned tries to get the party? Now available as a charming Classic Board Book, little ones will cheer as Ned’s luck turns from good to bad to good again. Featuring Remy Charlip’s bold, imaginative illustrations and spirited text, readers are in for a wonderfully wild adventure!
44 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1964
17 people are currently reading
745 people want to read
About the author
Remy Charlip
47 books36 followersAbraham 'Remy' Charlip (born January 10, 1929) was an American artist, writer, choreographer, theatre director, designer, and teacher.
He studied art at Straubenmuller Textile High School in Manhattan and fine arts at Cooper Union in New York, graduating in 1949.
In the 1960s, Charlip created a unique form of choreography, which he called "air mail dances". He sent a set of drawings to a dance company, and the dancers ordered the positions and created transitions and context.
He performed with John Cage, was a founding member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company for which he also designed sets and costumes, directed plays for the Judson Poet's Theater, co-founded the Paper Bag Players, and served as head of the Children's Theater and Literature Department at Sarah Lawrence College.
He won two Village Voice Obie Awards, three New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year citations, and was awarded a six-month residency in Kyoto from the Japan/U.S. Commission on the Arts. He wrote and/or illustrated more than 30 children's books and passed away in San Francisco, California, on August 14, 2012.
He studied art at Straubenmuller Textile High School in Manhattan and fine arts at Cooper Union in New York, graduating in 1949.
In the 1960s, Charlip created a unique form of choreography, which he called "air mail dances". He sent a set of drawings to a dance company, and the dancers ordered the positions and created transitions and context.
He performed with John Cage, was a founding member of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company for which he also designed sets and costumes, directed plays for the Judson Poet's Theater, co-founded the Paper Bag Players, and served as head of the Children's Theater and Literature Department at Sarah Lawrence College.
He won two Village Voice Obie Awards, three New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year citations, and was awarded a six-month residency in Kyoto from the Japan/U.S. Commission on the Arts. He wrote and/or illustrated more than 30 children's books and passed away in San Francisco, California, on August 14, 2012.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews
May 31, 2019
This was such an imaginative, exciting and funny book. I really liked the humour and the far fetched scenarios.
A boy received an invitation to a birthday party but unfortunately it was a long way away. Fortunately he borrows his friends plane but unfortunately the engine blows up. The rest of the book alternates between fortunately and unfortunately with a lovely surprise ending!
The illustrations are beautiful, colourful and humorous this would make such a fun book to read with a child! This would make a great birthday present.
Read on openlibrary
A boy received an invitation to a birthday party but unfortunately it was a long way away. Fortunately he borrows his friends plane but unfortunately the engine blows up. The rest of the book alternates between fortunately and unfortunately with a lovely surprise ending!
The illustrations are beautiful, colourful and humorous this would make such a fun book to read with a child! This would make a great birthday present.
Read on openlibrary
November 16, 2009
Ha ha ha ha ha. Oh, How I love this book. It had been lost in my sea of to-read books until a (non-Goodreads) friend mentioned it to me last night. Fortunately, my branch library had a copy on their shelves and I borrowed it this morning. (Unfortunately, I’ll have to return the book since the library owns it and I don’t own a copy.)
I think this book is hilarious. The story with happenings that go between fortunately and unfortunately (good luck vs. bad luck) is very funny and the accompanying illustrations are wonderful and perfectly fit the story. From the sun being half covered and smothered by a cloud to the finale, this book is highly entertaining. I love children’s picture books where the author/illustrator are one; their talents amaze me.
Given one occurrence in the book, I think that this book would make a wonderful birthday present.
I think this book is hilarious. The story with happenings that go between fortunately and unfortunately (good luck vs. bad luck) is very funny and the accompanying illustrations are wonderful and perfectly fit the story. From the sun being half covered and smothered by a cloud to the finale, this book is highly entertaining. I love children’s picture books where the author/illustrator are one; their talents amaze me.
Given one occurrence in the book, I think that this book would make a wonderful birthday present.
June 29, 2019
I interpret the message of this book to be: Life is unpredictable, and the ability to adapt in unexpected situations, and problem solve for positive outcomes is essential. The boy in the book had developed thinking skills, and he could run and swim. He was well equipped to meet the challenge of each unfortunate event.
March 8, 2013
Fortunately the illustrations switch from color to black and white.
Unfortunately the illustrations look a little dated.
Fortunately the book shows opposites in a very clear way.
Overall, a cute book and so beloved that it has been reprinted since 1961.
Unfortunately the illustrations look a little dated.
Fortunately the book shows opposites in a very clear way.
Overall, a cute book and so beloved that it has been reprinted since 1961.
May 28, 2018
This one seemed familiar, but I'm not sure if it's a book that I loved from childhood, or one that I read to my kids. Maybe both. Anyway, it's a don't-miss charmer of an adventure tale with ups and downs, laughs and shivers.
February 20, 2013
Just read this book and am sending to my brother-in-law Ned. My husband said that Ned had this book when he was a child and wanted to send it to him to bring back childhood memories. Ned, in this children's book navigates the ups and downs of life with resourcefulness and this would be a great read for any child passed the age of 5.
November 19, 2012
Great fun.
Ned goes on a wild adventure full of alternating fortunate and unfortunate events.
Luckily, it all turns out on a fortunate note at the end.
Ned goes on a wild adventure full of alternating fortunate and unfortunate events.
Luckily, it all turns out on a fortunate note at the end.
June 15, 2019
This amusing picture-book follows the wildly fluctuating fortunes of Ned, a young New York boy who is (fortunately) invited to a surprise party. Unfortunately, the party is far away... but fortunately, a friend loans Ned an airplane. Unfortunately, the motor explodes... but fortunately, Ned makes it to the parachute. And so it goes, back and forth, as Ned makes his adventure-filled way to a party, where there is one final twist in store...
I enjoyed Remy Charlip's Fortunately - my first title by this prolific picture-book author/artist - and imagine that young readers will find its deadpan back-and-forth humor even more hilarious than I did. I really liked the way that the illustrations alternated between brightly colored skies, when depicting the "fortunate" scenes, and dull, gray-toned black-and-white vistas, when depicting the "unfortunate" ones. It really added some extra oomph to the story! All in all, a fun little book, sure to appeal to young readers looking for a tale where anything can happen.
I enjoyed Remy Charlip's Fortunately - my first title by this prolific picture-book author/artist - and imagine that young readers will find its deadpan back-and-forth humor even more hilarious than I did. I really liked the way that the illustrations alternated between brightly colored skies, when depicting the "fortunate" scenes, and dull, gray-toned black-and-white vistas, when depicting the "unfortunate" ones. It really added some extra oomph to the story! All in all, a fun little book, sure to appeal to young readers looking for a tale where anything can happen.
January 13, 2020
Told in alternating spreads of Ned's adventures after he fortunately receives a birthday invitation, unfortunately he is in New York and the party is in Florida. I usually start be asking if anyone knows what "fortunately" means and then tell them unfortunately means something bad happens. I then have them put thumbs up for the good things and thumbs down for the bad. 1/9/12
Used this again for my birthday/MLK program. One mother liked it so much she took it to check out. 1/16/13
Used again and had a lot of thumbs (some fingers) pointing up and down. 1/20/15
Used again but my story time crowd keeps getting younger and younger. Not sure how many understood. 1/12/16
Used for Preschool Story Time, no one responded to my question of what Fortunately meant, but they got into doing the thumbs up and thumbs down.
Used this again for my birthday/MLK program. One mother liked it so much she took it to check out. 1/16/13
Used again and had a lot of thumbs (some fingers) pointing up and down. 1/20/15
Used again but my story time crowd keeps getting younger and younger. Not sure how many understood. 1/12/16
Used for Preschool Story Time, no one responded to my question of what Fortunately meant, but they got into doing the thumbs up and thumbs down.
August 17, 2017
Published in 1964, so if the illustrations seem a bit old-fashioned, there's a reason. The story, though, is a lot of fun, as Ned is invited to a birthday party; getting there involves a bit of serendipity. Fortunately... one pleasant thing happens. Then, unfortunately, there's an obstacle... which, fortunately, leads to another bit of good luck. And so on. Probably very original and innovative when it was written, in that the "fortunate" illustrations are in vivid color, while the "unforunate" ones are in black and white. An interesting look for young children at the way circumstances shape subsequent actions. A School Library Journal Top 100 picture book.
September 29, 2017
This is just fantastic. I wish I would have discovered this book as a child, it would have been a favorite. My younger brothers would have just adored this and it would have been read to pieces. Anyways, my 6 year old daughter thought this was just great. She insisted I read it twice and then she was still sitting on the sofa reading it to herself and giggling the whole time. Older picture book that has managed to stay very entertaining.
January 1, 2016
I have read this to my Kindergarten classes. The kids love this book. It is a fun way to teach the meaning of the words "Fortunately" and "Unfortunately." The children love to comment on what might happen next. As a teacher it is a great way to get students writing their own story with the same formula. Children love to hear it again and again.
February 13, 2017
Would have loved to use this book in class. Smart design, sweet illustrations, great opening for many conversations.
September 22, 2023
De când am devenit mamă cartea perfectă este aceea ce mă delectează atât pe mine, cât și pe fetița mea. Iar dacă la asta adaugi și umor, atunci fii sigur că o să citim și recitim cartea de zeci de ori. Un astfel de exemplu este "Din fericire" de Remy Charlip, unde destinul lucrează de ambele părți, rezultând o lectură absolut delicioasă.
Ned este un băiețel din New York ce primește o invitație la o petrecere surpriză. Din nefericire, petrecerea este în Florida, dar, din fericire, Ned are un prieten ce îi împrumută un avion. Dar, zborul lin este dintr-o dată întrerupt de explozia motorului. Însă norocul lui Ned nu îl părăsește, cu toate că o furcă rătăcită sau înotul cu rechinii îi dau ceva bătăi de cap.
Colorat și plin de haz, volumul se cere a fi citit de zeci de ori, fiind savurat de copii și părinți deopotrivă. Mai multe am scris într-un articol publicat pe blog.
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2023/...
Ned este un băiețel din New York ce primește o invitație la o petrecere surpriză. Din nefericire, petrecerea este în Florida, dar, din fericire, Ned are un prieten ce îi împrumută un avion. Dar, zborul lin este dintr-o dată întrerupt de explozia motorului. Însă norocul lui Ned nu îl părăsește, cu toate că o furcă rătăcită sau înotul cu rechinii îi dau ceva bătăi de cap.
Colorat și plin de haz, volumul se cere a fi citit de zeci de ori, fiind savurat de copii și părinți deopotrivă. Mai multe am scris într-un articol publicat pe blog.
https://ciobanuldeazi.home.blog/2023/...
February 21, 2012
The main character Ned is a fortunate individual when he receives an invitation to a surprise party. However, as he endeavors to attend the party, fortune is not always his friend. A fantastic journey ensues as Ned encounters a connected string of situations that alternate between impeding or advancing his mission. Illustrations mirror these varying circumstances: full color spreads pleasantly depict fortunate events while black and white images portray unfortunate circumstances. So consistent is the layout and design of the book that even the cover, endpaper, and introduction pages faithfully alternate between color and monochromatic illustrations. Woven into each image is either a remnant of the past illustration or a foreshadowing of the next image, tying the entire body of work together seamlessly. Complementing each double page illustration is one simple sentence beginning with either “fortunately” or “unfortunately” that succinctly explains Ned’s latest predicament. The color choice and expressive detail of each illustration along with the distinct, purposeful word choice and placement of text work together effectively to set the hopeful or concerning tone of each spread. Quickly catching on to the book’s alternating pattern, young readers will easily predict whether the next page will bring a fortunate or unfortunate event and eagerly anticipate turning the page to discover the specific details. By the end of this adventure, readers are left with a memorable experience they will soon want to revisit.
January 12, 2012
Remy Charlip is a choreographer, dancer, poet, artist and children's book author. He's also one of my favorite authors of children's books.
His books are surreal and playful. Fortunately builds on a series of events much like The House the Jack Built nursery rhyme. Each new event poses a new problem that requires a solution. The problem comes with "unfortunately" and the solution is provided with "fortunately."
The basic story follow's Ned's travels from New York to Florida to attend a party he has been invited to. On the way he has a number of misfortunes, each one more surreal than the previous. And yet all these apparently random events do help Ned reach his goal.
His books are surreal and playful. Fortunately builds on a series of events much like The House the Jack Built nursery rhyme. Each new event poses a new problem that requires a solution. The problem comes with "unfortunately" and the solution is provided with "fortunately."
The basic story follow's Ned's travels from New York to Florida to attend a party he has been invited to. On the way he has a number of misfortunes, each one more surreal than the previous. And yet all these apparently random events do help Ned reach his goal.
June 20, 2025
This is a very strange, but entertaining tale that follows a young man as he transitions from one very unlikely situation to another. The narrative is engaging, but the illustrations are a bit rudimentary for my taste.
Still, it's a humorous tale and we enjoyed reading it together. It reminded us of the story Suddenly! by Colin McNaughton.
Still, it's a humorous tale and we enjoyed reading it together. It reminded us of the story Suddenly! by Colin McNaughton.
September 28, 2017
I first encountered this book at an elementary school where students had written and illustrated their own Fortunately / Unfortunately scenario and they were displayed on the hall wall. What a terrific prompt for creative writing!
It works well in a pre-school story time at the library and was an ideal addition to our theme of FALLING this week. We have two story performers. One did the FORTUNATELY pages and the other did the UNFORTUNATELY pages while leading the children in pantomimes of swimming, running (patting legs), and so forth. Lots of action, Lots of fun.
It works well in a pre-school story time at the library and was an ideal addition to our theme of FALLING this week. We have two story performers. One did the FORTUNATELY pages and the other did the UNFORTUNATELY pages while leading the children in pantomimes of swimming, running (patting legs), and so forth. Lots of action, Lots of fun.
February 11, 2017
I found this book today in my public library, and I was so surprised! This book is all about Ned and the fortunate and unfortunate things that happen to him, but I had a personalized version of this book when I was little that I LOVED because it was about Cindy's adventures. I'm pretty sure that I still have that book at my parents' house, but I was tickled to see that kids today can still go on this fun adventure, even if it isn't personalized with their name (unless their name is Ned, of course!).
February 26, 2013
A good way to teach the concepts of fortunately and unfortunately. And the alternating pictures were had a lot of good details (the frowny face on the clock on the second page was my favorite). The unfortunate situations are somewhat dark and surprising which was fun. But somehow it didn't really grab me--I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend this book.
March 12, 2013
Fortunately, this book was fantastic!
Unfortunately, we have to return it to the library.
My kids and I LOVED this book. It just fits our sense of humor. This is one I'd love to own.
Unfortunately, we have to return it to the library.
My kids and I LOVED this book. It just fits our sense of humor. This is one I'd love to own.
March 20, 2013
I wish this book were three times as long, because it's kinda hilarious and messed up.
July 7, 2017
Lisa thought this was morbid but I thought it had a good message and could see the kid's outlook on desolation as blessings in disguise.
August 14, 2025
Funniest book I’ve ever read 10/10 no notes
August 14, 2025
A complete and utter masterpiece.
November 4, 2022
When we learn about page-turns in kidlit creator "curriculum," there is one book that comes up without fail. This is that book.
"Fortunately" mimics the emotional rollercoaster of going into a big adventure--the inevitable setbacks and triumphs--but at a level the littlest littles can quickly grasp and appreciate.
"Fortunately, Ned was invited to a surprise party. (page turn)
Unfortunately, the party was a thousand miles away. (page turn)
Fortunately, a friend loaned Ned an airplane. (page turn)
Unfortunately, the motor exploded. (page turn)
Fortunately, there was a parachute in the airplane."
It's a high-concept book that somehow conforms to all the standards of a picture book...while also setting them. No small feat! And...it's somehow also hilarious and, dare I say it, a little sweet? If you haven't read it yet, treat yo'self.
"Fortunately" mimics the emotional rollercoaster of going into a big adventure--the inevitable setbacks and triumphs--but at a level the littlest littles can quickly grasp and appreciate.
"Fortunately, Ned was invited to a surprise party. (page turn)
Unfortunately, the party was a thousand miles away. (page turn)
Fortunately, a friend loaned Ned an airplane. (page turn)
Unfortunately, the motor exploded. (page turn)
Fortunately, there was a parachute in the airplane."
It's a high-concept book that somehow conforms to all the standards of a picture book...while also setting them. No small feat! And...it's somehow also hilarious and, dare I say it, a little sweet? If you haven't read it yet, treat yo'self.
August 29, 2012
I love this book. What a good idea, what a good drawing of sharks at the chase (and tigers crouching through a hole underground). What a shame that Remy Charlip had the idea in 1964, before I was even a gleam in my father's crew cut.
My 4 year old loves it, but I decided to ask him what "fortunately" means. His answer: "Like us." Huh, said I? What does unfortunately mean? "Black [and white]." In other words, he inferred from the illustration switches that is what these words mean! ("Like us," meaning, in full color.) James Murray he ain't, I guess. I love a kid's mind at work.
My 4 year old loves it, but I decided to ask him what "fortunately" means. His answer: "Like us." Huh, said I? What does unfortunately mean? "Black [and white]." In other words, he inferred from the illustration switches that is what these words mean! ("Like us," meaning, in full color.) James Murray he ain't, I guess. I love a kid's mind at work.
May 20, 2010
I remembered reading this as a child although I didn't remember it much. My three-year-old son loved it! It made him laugh, and also taught him the meaning of the word "fortunately." I like the alternating use of color illustrations for the "fortunately" pages and the black-and-white for the "unfortunately" pages. Also the simple, humorous text and illustrations.
January 28, 2023
1/27/23
A storytime go-to for me. Love the bright colors and silliness.
This time around, I'm inviting the kiddos to cheer when a Fortunate thing happens and boo when an Unfortunate thing happens and they're loving it. (they will take any opportunity to yell in the library)
2/21/20
There were genuine gasps of horror several times during Ned's misadventures. The kiddos got really into it.
A storytime go-to for me. Love the bright colors and silliness.
This time around, I'm inviting the kiddos to cheer when a Fortunate thing happens and boo when an Unfortunate thing happens and they're loving it. (they will take any opportunity to yell in the library)
2/21/20
There were genuine gasps of horror several times during Ned's misadventures. The kiddos got really into it.
October 3, 2013
This one was a lot of fun. Ned's luck changes from page to page, and the concepts of "fortunately" and "unfortunately" are reinforced through the illustrations. When Ned has bad luck, the pictures are in gray scale. Would be a great readaloud.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 236 reviews