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Alvin Ho #3
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects, and Other Man-made Catastrophes
There's nothing scarier than a birthday party in the third book in a hilarious chapter book series that tackles anxiety in a fun, kid-friendly way. Perfect for both beginning and reluctant readers, and fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid!Alvin Ho, an Asian American second grader, is afraid of everything. For example, what could possibly be so scary about a birthday party? Let Alvin • You might be dressed for bowling . . . but everyone else is dressed for swimming.• You could get mistaken for the piñata.• You could eat too much cake.• You could throw up.So when Alvin receives an invitation to a party—a girl’s party—how will he ever survive?A humorous and touching series about facing your fears and embracing new experiences—with a truly unforgettable character—from author Lenore Look and New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor winning illustrator LeUyen Pham.“Alvin’s a winner.” —New York Post
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
83 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
About the author
Lenore Look
34 books115 followersI first began making picture books in kindergarten because my other career option at the time was stealing. But a life of crime requires practice and patience, neither of which I had, so I settled into industry, making what I coveted but what my parents could not afford to buy: beautiful books like the ones my teacher read to us in school.
Publishing was no problem in those days, not like it is now. By first-grade, I was my own publisher, making multiple copies of my books by hand. As for fame and fortune, I took care of that, too–I taught my brothers and the neighborhood kids how to wait in line for autographed copies, and I charged them 25 cents a book (an enviable paperback royalty today!), but also accepted candy.
By third grade, I had abandoned the literary scene. My parents had bought an old piano and signed me up for lessons and, thus, I began dreaming of becoming a world-famous concert pianist.
Then I came across a book on Maria Tallchief, and became a ballerina, just like that. I weighed only 40 pounds and could leap and pirouette all day without stopping. It was a lot easier than becoming a pianist.
Then I read a book about a surgeon, and one about a veterinarian, and another about a great tennis player . . . and I found myself wanting to become whatever I’d last read.
Eventually I grew up and became a newspaper reporter. It was the perfect job for me. I got paid to do the two things I loved most: writing and being curious. Working as a reporter taught me how to talk to people, how to find the story behind the story, and how to tell a story in a way that keeps a reader reading. I learned to listen to the way people talk. I learned to be precise and concise in my own choice of words. Best of all, the more I wrote, the more I was filled with a sense of wonder. I loved writing not only about what happens to people, but also about what happens inside of them, which is what writing for children is all about, but I didn’t yet know it.
It wasn’t until I became a mother and began reading children’s books again that I felt what the Chinese call yun fuen, a continuing of work begun in past lives. I had long forgotten my early foray into picture books, the thread I’d dropped in kindergarten, a thin rig, like the one a spider would use in rising. I had journeyed nearly 30 years down through space by then, unaware of my silken strand. Then one afternoon, with my two young children clamoring for something to do, I showed them how to fold paper into a book . . . picked up some crayons and a pen, and then . . . felt myself rising . . . returning to that place where I began, that brief age in which I had so many talents, and leapt and pirouetted into the sun, and could not stop.
Publishing was no problem in those days, not like it is now. By first-grade, I was my own publisher, making multiple copies of my books by hand. As for fame and fortune, I took care of that, too–I taught my brothers and the neighborhood kids how to wait in line for autographed copies, and I charged them 25 cents a book (an enviable paperback royalty today!), but also accepted candy.
By third grade, I had abandoned the literary scene. My parents had bought an old piano and signed me up for lessons and, thus, I began dreaming of becoming a world-famous concert pianist.
Then I came across a book on Maria Tallchief, and became a ballerina, just like that. I weighed only 40 pounds and could leap and pirouette all day without stopping. It was a lot easier than becoming a pianist.
Then I read a book about a surgeon, and one about a veterinarian, and another about a great tennis player . . . and I found myself wanting to become whatever I’d last read.
Eventually I grew up and became a newspaper reporter. It was the perfect job for me. I got paid to do the two things I loved most: writing and being curious. Working as a reporter taught me how to talk to people, how to find the story behind the story, and how to tell a story in a way that keeps a reader reading. I learned to listen to the way people talk. I learned to be precise and concise in my own choice of words. Best of all, the more I wrote, the more I was filled with a sense of wonder. I loved writing not only about what happens to people, but also about what happens inside of them, which is what writing for children is all about, but I didn’t yet know it.
It wasn’t until I became a mother and began reading children’s books again that I felt what the Chinese call yun fuen, a continuing of work begun in past lives. I had long forgotten my early foray into picture books, the thread I’d dropped in kindergarten, a thin rig, like the one a spider would use in rising. I had journeyed nearly 30 years down through space by then, unaware of my silken strand. Then one afternoon, with my two young children clamoring for something to do, I showed them how to fold paper into a book . . . picked up some crayons and a pen, and then . . . felt myself rising . . . returning to that place where I began, that brief age in which I had so many talents, and leapt and pirouetted into the sun, and could not stop.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
February 27, 2017
I'm annoyed. The first two Alvin Ho books were great, they were funny and interesting and featured a non stereotypical Chinese American boy as the main character. It's rare to read a book with an Asian American character without an immigrant story attached, and as much as those stories are important and relevant, books with Asian kids just being kids are equally important.
Alvin is obsessed with dressing up in a caricature of a Native American ("deluxe Indian chief" costume). Blerghhh. There are even illustrations of Alvin in the headdress. I actually checked when this was published, because it felt like I was in the 1950s. It is so not cool to have stereotypes about other POC in a book about POC.
Then there's the innuendos about what it means to be a boy versus a girl, which is also eerily 1950ish. "Gentlemen don't play with lady's things." And then there's this weird, uncomfortable scene where Alvin's dad takes his sons and shows them a junior scientist kit, which apparently is a male endeavor. Cause girls couldn't possibly become scientists.
So deeply annoyed and disappointed.
Alvin is obsessed with dressing up in a caricature of a Native American ("deluxe Indian chief" costume). Blerghhh. There are even illustrations of Alvin in the headdress. I actually checked when this was published, because it felt like I was in the 1950s. It is so not cool to have stereotypes about other POC in a book about POC.
Then there's the innuendos about what it means to be a boy versus a girl, which is also eerily 1950ish. "Gentlemen don't play with lady's things." And then there's this weird, uncomfortable scene where Alvin's dad takes his sons and shows them a junior scientist kit, which apparently is a male endeavor. Cause girls couldn't possibly become scientists.
So deeply annoyed and disappointed.
March 7, 2011
I was disappointed with the constant "playing Indians" that occurred throughout the book, particularly as Look never addressed how such activities are distressing to living Native Americans and can be particularly damaging to children.
Normally I find the Alvin Ho books to be funny, but my discomfort ruined anything humorous that might have been in the book.
Normally I find the Alvin Ho books to be funny, but my discomfort ruined anything humorous that might have been in the book.
October 18, 2010
Sure, it's all getting a little formulaic and schticky, but still good. Same good gender-bending/gender exploration stuff as in the first two books. I would feel remiss if I didn't mention the unfortunate "playing Indian" plot, which is really strange--seriously, how do these things still get through agents and editorial staffs? Look writes a delightful multi-ethnic cast, then has them "playing Indian" (complete with chief and princess costumes) throughout the book without a meta comment? How is this even possible? (One reviewer here, to my amusement, mentions that the author should know the term Indian is pejorative, which it isn't, and yet doesn't critique the actual plot, which is.)
May 28, 2021
Alvin Ho is one kid who is virtually afraid of almost anything. Compared to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, it is a humorous series of a little kid who's overreaction ends up causing much of the situation to go worst for him. Though, I don't see much comparison to Greg Heffley than I do more to Junie B. Jones, in that Alvin is naive little boy who let's his fears get the best of him. To which, he often learns the hard way of how to deal with them, getting into embarrassing moments, and driving his parents crazy much like Junie B.
This was a fun read of Alvin's day-to-day life as he deals with invitations to a girl's party, having fart attacks, and being stalked by the ghost of Louisa May Alcott. I hope to see that the other books live up to this one.
This was a fun read of Alvin's day-to-day life as he deals with invitations to a girl's party, having fart attacks, and being stalked by the ghost of Louisa May Alcott. I hope to see that the other books live up to this one.
May 22, 2020
Sometimes Alvin is annoying. Imagine having to deal with a child like that in real life and Calvin who's supposed to be older isn't even the sharpest tool in the shed, it's Anibelly.
April 9, 2023
Perfect read aloud for 7-9’ year olds!
May 30, 2020
Probably the funniest of the 4 I've read so far, and the first time Alvin didn't annoy me.
May 16, 2015
This story is about Alvin ho. he was in the school bus sitting next to flea, a girl, while his brother and his friends were playing around. miss p told them to stop, So they did stop. flea was telling Alvin about the fun trip they are going to have. flea told Alvin that their going to see Henry Thorea. Alvin was already frightened about it. he was very scared. he was thinking how scary the grave will be like . Finally, the bus stopped. they were at the grave yard, then Alvin saw the grave of Henry Thoreau while the other kids were playing. Alvin looked in the window. there was something suspicious. finally a person was whispering that this was were Henry Thoreau died. he was the dead tour guide. Alvin jumped because he was scared, and all his Pdk box things came out. everyone was shocked. miss p told all the kids that it is time to go to the Alcott house. Alvin was already frightened. Finally, they were at the Alcott house. Alvin was looking at the pictures. he was looking in a room, and he read a letter. then a lady saw Alvin and took him down stairs. Alvin went in the bathroom wrote go to the bathroom, stay in the bathroom. Finally, miss p told every one to come back. they went back to the school bus. Alvin and his brother went home. Alvin was running around, and his little sister was poking holes. they were playing Indian at night. Alvin wished for something , then he jumped back on his bed because he thought their was a monster under his bed. Alvin made a card for flea because tomorrow was her birthday party. when Alvin was going down stairs, he fell on flea. She was mad that he hit her. Alvin went back home. Soon, it was Picture day. Alvin was Dressed like a balarina. they took the picture. his mother came and picked him up from school and Calvin too. all his friends were at flea's birthday party but soon ran away from Alvin because he farted accidentally.The End
April 24, 2012
I love Alvin - his books are such a great combination of childish humour (that's still funny for adults too), little boy attitude (that means well so you can't get annoyed) and a genuine love and respect for his parents that just melts me. There's a tiny bit of boy humour too - but actually it's quite funny and doesn't take over the whole book, I don't think it goes too far.
Some of my favourite moments in this one:
Alvin's shopping with his mum, who wonders how long it's been since the two of them spent time together, Alvin's so happy spending time with his mum that he doesn't know what to say (he's often speechless), so he just stays quiet so that he doesn't 'spoil the moment'...
Then in the same episode he says "I'm trying to be a gentleman for my mum on account of that's what she's used to from my dad" (sweet!)
When Alvin's not looking forward to being the only boy at a girl's birthday party, his brother Calvin recommends he use their mother's "miracle cream" to make him invisible... when he's covered in the stuff they agree that he is indeed a "headless stump" (ie an unrecognisable blob)... boys!
Then they go on a class excursion to meet some 'authors' who've been dead for 300 years but still give tours of their houses... and Alvin nearly drops dead himself when one of them turns up wearing jeans as his new babysitter...
And every time Alvin is asked to RSVP, he "Resumes Standing Very Promptly", after being enlightened by his friend Charlie.
There's so much more, the pictures and text have you laughing out loud on every page... just read the book. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
June 8, 2017
Once again, Lenore Look brings us a funny and quirky book about Alvin Ho, a second grader trying to make his way in a world full of scary things.
As always, I love the way Lenore Look casually incorporates multiculturalism and diversity. Alvin just happens to be Chinese-American, and his classmates include Nhia, who is Cambodian, and Flea, who wears an eye patch and has a limp.
In fact, it is because Alvin Ho books are usually so inclusive that I am especially disappointed that this particular book featured Alvin pining for a Deluxe Indian Chief outfit, "complete with a huge feather headdress that makes you look like a giant bird!" The book does not in any way show any intent to insult Native American Indians, but in this day and age of cultural diversity, I would think the author and the publisher would know better than to perpetuate racially insensitive play. Would the author have been okay writing about a white boy who pined for a Chinese play outfit, complete with a conical rice hat and a fake Fu Manchu mustache?
That aside, the rest of the book does make for an entertaining story. Alvin faces his fears and learns "to do the right thing". My actual rating is more like 2 1/2 stars; I thought most of the writing was better than "ok", but I can't say I "liked" it because of the bit about playing Indians. Without the racial insensitivity, I would have given the book 4 or maybe even 5 stars.
As always, I love the way Lenore Look casually incorporates multiculturalism and diversity. Alvin just happens to be Chinese-American, and his classmates include Nhia, who is Cambodian, and Flea, who wears an eye patch and has a limp.
In fact, it is because Alvin Ho books are usually so inclusive that I am especially disappointed that this particular book featured Alvin pining for a Deluxe Indian Chief outfit, "complete with a huge feather headdress that makes you look like a giant bird!" The book does not in any way show any intent to insult Native American Indians, but in this day and age of cultural diversity, I would think the author and the publisher would know better than to perpetuate racially insensitive play. Would the author have been okay writing about a white boy who pined for a Chinese play outfit, complete with a conical rice hat and a fake Fu Manchu mustache?
That aside, the rest of the book does make for an entertaining story. Alvin faces his fears and learns "to do the right thing". My actual rating is more like 2 1/2 stars; I thought most of the writing was better than "ok", but I can't say I "liked" it because of the bit about playing Indians. Without the racial insensitivity, I would have given the book 4 or maybe even 5 stars.
March 7, 2013
I am currently reading Alvin Ho #3 by Lenore Look. I am at the part where Alvin and Flea are at a field trip to a cementry and meet a famous author named Ralph Waldo Emerson. I think me and Alvin Have somethings in common like we both like writing and like field trips. I think the author does a good job of describing the characters like he makes Alvin scared like when he when he sees the grave he gulp and hides behind Flea and makes flea not really a girl like nobody knew that Flea was a girl and she acts like boy.I think would even be scared because when I was young I went to a cementer then when I saw all those graves I was really scared. I think you should read this book if you like humor.
September 23, 2020
The RSVP joke was not funny the first time it was brought up, it did not get funnier on 11th mention.
May 11, 2017
I'm very disappointed with this installment in the Alvin Ho series. The portrayal of children playing Settlers vs. Indians was unnecessary, and Alvin's fixation on needing the perfect "Deluxe Indian Chief outfit with fringe" was troubling. This perpetuation of reducing Native Americans to stereotypes is unacceptable.
August 26, 2020
Alvin is a hilarious character that students will love. Perfect level for third/fourth grade and higher reader in second grade. I do not know if I would recommend this particular book, not because of the character and writing but because the author propagates stereotypes of Native Americans. Disappointed in that aspect of the book.
August 12, 2017
Sweet and funny
Just right for read aloud's and also independent reading. My nine-year-old loves it! Album and how it's funny, relatable, and always manages to do the right thing even if it's tough at first. Plus it's really swag
Just right for read aloud's and also independent reading. My nine-year-old loves it! Album and how it's funny, relatable, and always manages to do the right thing even if it's tough at first. Plus it's really swag
August 27, 2019
There's a lot of blatant sexism and gender roles, that being said, otherwise Alvin Ho's point of view is necessary and pretty funny. It's reflective of the developmental age and their perspective and scope of exploration of the world. I love Cal and Gung gung, they are my favorite!
June 6, 2024
I find the author's writing laugh-out-loud funny BUT not cool about all the "playing/dressing up as indians." I really enjoyed the first Alvin Ho book- 5 stars to the first one! Only 2 for this one on account of the disrespect to Native Americans.
November 4, 2018
Funny.
May 6, 2019
Read this to my class. Surprising amount of farting in this book i.e. it's a great time, four stars.
July 24, 2020
The book was ok, it reminded me of the Junie B. Jones series though Alvin never seemed to learn anything from his adventures.
January 16, 2021
It was okay.
September 6, 2022
This book deals with fear of attending a girl’s birthday party and not knowing what etiquette to use.
December 17, 2022
Read to my 3rd and 4th graders
April 17, 2023
3.5 ⭐️
October 10, 2024
This was just okay. It's cute, but not great. My son really liked it, though.
September 21, 2012
Look, L. (2010). Alvin Ho: allergic to birthday parties, science projects, and other man-made catastrophes. New York, New York, Schwartz & Wade Books.
Alvin Ho is an elementary-aged boy who is a bit of a hypochondriac. He has a Personal Disaster Kit (PDK) everywhere he goes, just in case anything should happen to him. He is old enough to know that he doesn't like girls, although he does have some girl friends. He gets teased about it at school, so he tries to impress the boys so he fits in better with them. In this third installment of the Alvin Ho series, we are witness to Alvin's adventures on a class field trip, his brother Calvin's solution to disappear using their mother's face cream (to make lines disappear!), Alvin's trip to the mall with his mother to find his girl friend Flea a gift, a mixed-up, chaotic class picture day, and finally the birthday party.
From the get-go, the book has a lot of action, dialogue, and first person narrative. This style of writing held my attention throughout the book. I was always curious to know what would happen next, especially when I would finish a chapter and glance at the the next chapter's title. Ms. Look did a good job teasing the reader into wondering how the next chapter of Alvin's story develop by writing intriguing chapter titles, and also by creating a humorous character like Alvin. He is inventive and curious; quirky and eccentric- just the kind of kid that reluctant readers would want to read about. I would definitely recommend this to my nephew, who is in the 6th grade and might even rather spend an evening reading Alvin Ho than playing Minecraft. I think that boys, especially, could related to Alvin being put off by girls, but also being a little curious about them. One thing that I would be wary of recommending this title is that I was a bit disturbed by the playing "Indian" subject. In this day and age, I think it's wrong to be calling Native Americans "Indians," and think playing "Indian" is appropriate. I would have to read the other Alvin Ho books before I write the series off. Other than this glitch, I really enjoyed the characters and the storyline.
Genre: humorous fiction
Reading level/interest level: Intermediate Elementary level, Tween, Young Adult, Adult
Similar books/materials: Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Reader's advisory notes:
i. personal thoughts: See the second paragraph about playing "Indian."
ii. subjects/themes: friendship, school, family
iii. awards:
iv. series information: this is the third book in the Alvin Ho series
v. character names/description: Alvin Ho, protagonist, elementary school-age (I wasn't clear on his exact age from reading the book); Calvin, Alvin's older brother; Anibelly, Alvin's younger sister; Alvin's mother; Alvin's father; Flea, a girl at school who invited him to her birthday party; Bucky, his cousin who tries to teach him manners; Hobson, a boy at school who is having a party the same day as Flea's, but Alvin doesn't get an invitation for the longest time
vi. annotation: Alvin Ho is afraid of everything. When he gets an invitation to a girl's birthday party, he freaks out! A girl party?! He hates girls. See how Alvin deals with having to get ready and go to a girl party.
September 2, 2016
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Birthday Parties, Science Projects, and Other Man-made Catastrophes written by Lenore Look, and illustrated by LeUyen Pham is the third book about Alvin Ho, a second-grader who is "allergic" to just about everything. The first two installments saw Alvin and his PDK (personal disaster kit) taking on such terrors as piano lessons, the class bully, a camping trip, and getting trapped in a dishwasher box. This time around, he's plagued by a field trip where Louisa May Alcott clones won't stop following him, and worse, an invitation to a girl's birthday party!
I love these books. For one thing, I'm so glad to see a loveable chapter book character coming from a Chinese-American background. I absolutely love all the details of Chinese culture that are infused into these books. I also think Alvin is a really realistic example of a second grader. Sometimes, Alvin wants to impress the other boys, and he'll make mistakes or do the wrong thing, knowing it's wrong, but other times, he just wants to hold his dad's hand, or curl up next to his mom. And Lenore Look doesn't shy away from any of those feelings. Wherever a second grade boy's interests and emotions might go, Look follows them there.
For me, as an adult, the "afraid of everything" gimmick is starting to wear off. I still thought this book was funny, but some of the scenes were a little over the top, such as Alvin's class switching clothes before school pictures, and Alvin ending up in a dress. But chapter book series are somewhat gimmicky by nature, and it's the repetition of those familiar things that makes them so appealing to kids, and especially to reluctant readers. And while not every kid is likely to be afraid of everything Alvin fears, each of his fears is being experienced by a second-grader somewhere. And I think that's what makes these books so popular, at least in my library. Kids like to see Alvin triumph over his fears, because it gives them confidence to conquer their own.
If you're only going to read one Alvin Ho book, I suggest the first one, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things, because I think it is the best one, but if you get hooked, also look for Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters, as well as Lenore Look's other chapter book series, featuring eight-year-old Ruby Lu. (There are three books so far: Ruby Lu, Brave and True, Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything, and newly published last month, Ruby Lu, Star of the Show.)
September 10, 2016
Saya menunggu kelanjutan dari serial Alvin Ho sejak terakhir membaca buku yang kedua. Tapi sepertinya memang belum ada yang menerjemahkan lagi. Setelah mencari-cari ebooknya, akhirnya ketemu juga. Entah kenapa saya suka dengan tokoh anak kecil penakut dan absurd ini.
Kali ini Alvin Ho dan teman-teman sekelasnya sedang melakukan tour mengunjungi beberapa rumah milik penulis terkenal. Yang Alvin ketahui pemilik rumah yang juga penulis terkenal itu sudah meninggal ratusan tahun yang lalu. Bagaimana caranya mereka bisa berdiri dan menjadi pemandu dalam tour ini? Perasaan Alvin lantas tidak nyaman. Dia ketakutan. Apalagi ketika dia melihat ada beberapa Louisa May Alcott.Wow… sekarang Louisa sudah diklon menjadi banyak!!
Untunglah tour segera berakhir. Tidak lama kemudian Alvin mendapatkan undangan pesta ulang tahun dari Flea, teman sebangkunya. Padahal Alvin inginnya pergi ke pesta ulang tahun Hobson, anak laki-laki di kelasnya. Alvin mencari tahu bagaimana isi pesta anak perempuan, dan ia bertanya kepada kakaknya Calvin. Calvin menjelaskan jika pesta anak perempuan itu berisi jamuan minum teh dan lebih parahnya semua yang datang adalah anak perempuan. Alvin ketakutan tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa di pesta itu. Dia pun belajar pada sepupunya, Bucky. Sementara itu, untuk menghadiri pesta ulang tahun anak laki-laki, Alvin harus punya kostum kepala suku Indian. Bagaimana caranya agar dia bisa punya kostum itu?
Kelakuan Alvin yang konyol dan absurd membuat saya tertawa. Betapa polosnya pemikiran seorang anak, terutama Alvin yang memang memiliki keistimewaan “mutisme selektif”. Alvin masih sering ketakutan ketika berhadapan dengan orang banyak atau sesuatu yang tidak diduga. Alvin tidak suka kejutan. Dalam buku ini, kita bisa melihat bagaimana ayah dan ibunya Alvin berusaha membuat Alvin seperti anak biasanya. Meski kalau dari cerita sudut pandang Alvin, tetap saja lucu.
Kali ini Alvin Ho dan teman-teman sekelasnya sedang melakukan tour mengunjungi beberapa rumah milik penulis terkenal. Yang Alvin ketahui pemilik rumah yang juga penulis terkenal itu sudah meninggal ratusan tahun yang lalu. Bagaimana caranya mereka bisa berdiri dan menjadi pemandu dalam tour ini? Perasaan Alvin lantas tidak nyaman. Dia ketakutan. Apalagi ketika dia melihat ada beberapa Louisa May Alcott.Wow… sekarang Louisa sudah diklon menjadi banyak!!
Untunglah tour segera berakhir. Tidak lama kemudian Alvin mendapatkan undangan pesta ulang tahun dari Flea, teman sebangkunya. Padahal Alvin inginnya pergi ke pesta ulang tahun Hobson, anak laki-laki di kelasnya. Alvin mencari tahu bagaimana isi pesta anak perempuan, dan ia bertanya kepada kakaknya Calvin. Calvin menjelaskan jika pesta anak perempuan itu berisi jamuan minum teh dan lebih parahnya semua yang datang adalah anak perempuan. Alvin ketakutan tidak bisa berbuat apa-apa di pesta itu. Dia pun belajar pada sepupunya, Bucky. Sementara itu, untuk menghadiri pesta ulang tahun anak laki-laki, Alvin harus punya kostum kepala suku Indian. Bagaimana caranya agar dia bisa punya kostum itu?
Kelakuan Alvin yang konyol dan absurd membuat saya tertawa. Betapa polosnya pemikiran seorang anak, terutama Alvin yang memang memiliki keistimewaan “mutisme selektif”. Alvin masih sering ketakutan ketika berhadapan dengan orang banyak atau sesuatu yang tidak diduga. Alvin tidak suka kejutan. Dalam buku ini, kita bisa melihat bagaimana ayah dan ibunya Alvin berusaha membuat Alvin seperti anak biasanya. Meski kalau dari cerita sudut pandang Alvin, tetap saja lucu.
March 31, 2011
The third installment of this series about worry-ridden second grader Alvin Ho runs along the same lines as the previous two. Alvin is still carting his PDK (Personal Disaster Kit) everywhere he goes, still making lists, and still trying to navigate the tricky spots where the world of girls and the world of boys intersect, especially since his best friend happens to be a girl. There are some very touching moments when Alvin gets a little bit of guidance from his father, while Alvin's struggles to communicate with his mother and his bickering with his older brother and younger sister keep the family life from getting too sweet. Alvin's relationship with his dad is a stand-out feature of this series; as in most kid books, the parents are largely relegated to the background while the children take center stage, but Alvin's parents (especially his dad) are clearly level-headed, responsible, loving parents, and Alvin's respect for them shines through.
LeUyen Pham's appealing pen-and-ink illustrations add just the right visual element to Alvin's ridiculous predicaments. Any of the books in this series can stand alone and would be a good choice for fans of Roscoe Riley looking a little longer (though still quick-paced) read.
LeUyen Pham's appealing pen-and-ink illustrations add just the right visual element to Alvin's ridiculous predicaments. Any of the books in this series can stand alone and would be a good choice for fans of Roscoe Riley looking a little longer (though still quick-paced) read.
July 6, 2010
Drat. Book one was funny and book two was even funnier. Book three ... meh. Almost didn't laugh out loud at all (and for an Alvin Ho book you know that is a disappointment) until about three-fourths of the way through when Alvin goes to the mall with his mother to look for a birthday present for a friend. He's upset because he wanted something "And your mom is sweating from dragging you through the mall, and giving you that look that says she should have just ordered something on the Internet. 'Remind me,' my mom says breathlessly when we finally got out to the car, 'the. next. time. I. want. to. take. you. shopping. that. it. would. be. easier. just. to. go. to. the. gym.'"
Though I do still love the illustrator's work. Her name is LeUyen Pham. Her pictures look like the ones in my parents' books from when they were kids ... very sixties pen and ink that are just fun. Absolutely saved this book for me. Author, please make the next one funny again. I'm so sad this one wasn't.
I am not sure about kids. They might give it three stars.
Though I do still love the illustrator's work. Her name is LeUyen Pham. Her pictures look like the ones in my parents' books from when they were kids ... very sixties pen and ink that are just fun. Absolutely saved this book for me. Author, please make the next one funny again. I'm so sad this one wasn't.
I am not sure about kids. They might give it three stars.
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