Just Not Invited

by Gina Mayer, Mercer Mayer

When Little Critter isn’t invited to Billy Bear’s party at Fun City, he really feels left out! But, with the help of his family, Little Critter manages to turn this painful experience into a positive one. With humor and sensitivity, Gina and Mercer Mayer’s storytelling is at its best in this wonderful new addition to the Little Critter series.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

24 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. For the German author of novels, youth books and children's books, see Gina Mayer

Reviews

[Chloey Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story begins of the kids at school raving about receiving an invitation to Billy's birthday party that weekend. The party was going to be full of excitement as it was held at everyone's favorite place to go. The main character anxiously checked the mail everyday and always kept an eye out for the birthday boy heading in his direction to give him his invite. As the party grew closer and closer the boy became more doubtful and miserable until a stumble at the park.
The text of the story is spoken in first person and as the view of the main character. You could fully grasp what the boy was thinking and feeling the whole week leading up to the party and how he responded differently at home and at school. It took you back to all of those moments growing up and even now, when you focus all of your energy and emotion with the idea of going to a certain event everyone else was invited too. The exact words and ideas stated by the main character were ones of common thought as we have all probably been in the boy's shoes at least once in our lifetime.

[J. Gurantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a godsend. I found it in a bookstore right around the same time as my kid started becoming more and more aware of parties and learning that sometimes you are simply not invited to all of them.
It displayed different truthful, at times uncomfortable emotions that kids and adults alike can relate to.
It freed me from being a preachy parent. I simply read this book many times and through its telling my child was able to gleam the fact that it's okay to not be invited, it's ok to feel left out, and it's okay to not invite everyone.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when you're just not invited? You throw your own private party instead! Love Little Critter.

[Maricruz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved these books as a child & I love them even more now that I'm reading them with my children.