The Party

by Barbara Reid

Two sisters do not want to go their Grandma's birthday picnic and spend time with relatives they barely know, but after they get there, they have so much fun that they do not want to leave.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Canada, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

As a child, Barbara Reid loved reading, drawing, writing and fooling around with plasticine. She kept at it, and has written and illustrated 19 picture books, illustrating more than 25. Her books have been published in over a dozen countries, and her signature plasticine relief illustrations have won many awards including a Governor General’s Award for Illustration and the Ezra Jack Keats Award. Her work has been selected for the IBBY International Honour List, Sydney Taylor Notable Books, the Toronto Public Library’s First and Best List and the Ontario Library Association Best Bets. Recently, Picture a Tree received starred reviews in Quill and Quire, the Horn Book, Kirkus and Booklist.

Through workshops and presentations across Canada, Barbara has enjoyed meeting thousands of young readers, writers and fellow plasticine artists. In July 2013 Barbara was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada.

Barbara’s dimensional artwork is photographed for reproduction by photographer, and husband, Ian Crysler. Barbara lives in Toronto, but is at home in libraries and classrooms everywhere.

Reviews

[Westcoast_girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book to read again and again.

The art is incredible! It is all made from clay. The text that goes along with the art is fun, whimsical, and descriptive.

The story reminded me of many block parties I had been to as a child. The games inspired me to want to play children's chase games like capture the flag and sardines again.

Whether the kids were being bombarded with kisses from relatives, bragging to cousins about heroic deeds, leaping over shark-lawn chairs, ruling court under the grownups table, or being packed away sleepily but satisfied into a dark car, I felt as if I were right there with them.

Read this book!

[Chinook · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels a bit like this story is telling about my childhood. We had big summer family picnics, I had an Aunt Joan, the dress with the smocking reminds me of dresses I wore, the food is the food of my nana’s generation, the games they play I also played. It’s also got a nice reading cadence. The girls liked the illustrations generally but loved the page where the kids are dizzy and it’s all blurry.

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Reid is a world renowned Canadian author and illustrator. Reid has won just about every Canadian award for children's authors or illustrators, and her unique plasticine illustrations are known and recognized the world over. She won the Governor General's Literary Award for Children's Illustration with this book.

This is the story of a family reunion/party. It is the story of two sisters who are nervous and hesitant at the beginning of the day, and a little shy about being at the party. Yet as the day wears on the children have their own fun and adventures as the adults catch up and enjoy the party also. With incredible illustrations and a great story, it is a book that will be fun for the whole family.

[Olivia S · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure what I think of this book. I'm not wild on all the text, some of it forces the rhyme and rhythm, which bugs me. Overall I find the book evokes a lot of nostalgia in me, particularly the pictures, of being a little kid. She definitely captures the mood and the feeling of childhood gatherings. Quite a lot of text, 5+. Not sure I would bother with.

[Jeanine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The artwork is beautiful and detailed of course. The story itself picked up as you got further in but was awkward at the start especially with the children not wanting to be kissed. It could be used to discuss consent. It ended up having a steady, rhythm to the words which was very nice.

[Bennett Burgess · Rating 4 out of 5]

it's good.

[KaitandMaddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is basically my childhood family parties. I even have an Aunt Joan.

[Teddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Reid also did the illustrations for this fun book. Two sisters were going to a party with their parents. They didn't seem too happy about it. As they drove away they saw their friends outside playing, having a good old time but they had to say, "no." When they arrive at the party their Aunt Joan kissed them. "The very worst of the party." The sisters weren't sure how to start the party but soon some other kids arrived and they played together. The Party then goes on from there.

This book would be a great way to introduce kids to the concept of a party. Barbara Reid does a great job putting it all into words. For her illustrations, she used Plasticine artwork for the illustrations that were simply amazing. It is not surprising that she has won many awards for this artwork. She made Aunt Joan practically burst out of the page with her wet kiss. Aunt Joan reminded me of an Aunt I had far removed who was at a lot of our family gatherings. We always went to get her kiss over with first thing. She had a wet kiss and it was actually not a real kiss. She sucked our cheek into her mouth. LOL!

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plasticine illustrations magically bring to life this rollicking rhyming narration of a happy childhood memory. Anyone who has experienced (or imagined!) the rollercoaster of emotions that is a large family gathering will love this beautiful book.

Listen to our chat about this book on our JustOneMoreBook.com Children's Book Podcast:

http://www.justonemorebook.com/2006/0...

[Lise Audet · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Barbara Reid's picture books are so filled with detail in her plasticine illustrations. She does the plasticine artwork which her husband photographs to then be inserted in her books. My favorite book is this one titled "The Party".
Children of all ages love doing this type of art. They soon realize the amount of work and dedication that goes into every illustration.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family gets dressed up to go to a family party that the children are not enthused about - until they get there and get to play with their cousins they don’t often see. This story is so typical of those annual family get-togethers with fun and games, lots of food and love, and children who don’t want to go home at the end of it. The beautiful illustrations were created with Plasticine.

[Maria Gable · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delight! It brought back memories from family gatherings and homeschool group gatherings and church gatherings. Skinned knees, sweaty hair, way too much food, favorite dishes only eaten once a year, and friends and family. Highly recommend hunting it down at your local library! And quite the pleasant rhyme scheme!

[Pam Klassen-dueck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie asks to read this book at least 4x/day. I know it off by heart. :)
Reid did a great job with the text (charming - she definitely understands a child's interior world) and the gorgeous plasticine illustrations.

[Huda Fel · Rating 3 out of 5]

for children who are being forced to attend family parties (;

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminds me so much of my two daughters. Loved it!

[Michelle Wiebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book.