Oh No, It's Waylon's Birthday! - Hardcover

Stevenson, James

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 068808236X ISBN 13: 9780688082369

Publisher: Greenwillow, 1989

Synopsis

The peaks and pitfalls of friendship are explored in a merry collection of novellas, inhabited by an amiable and very human group of hippos, penguins, and alligators

About this title

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 2-- These three brief stories won't disappoint, but the book doesn't rank as Stevenson's best, either. In the first, an elephant anticipates his 249th birthday, sure that he has experienced every sort of birthday surprise imaginable; the second is about a hippo trying to find some peace and quiet in the very noisy jungle; and in the third, a group of penguins cope with the cold and very slippery ice. The first story is the weakest as children may not appreciate the subtlety of the birthday surprises given by Waylon's friends. The middle story is a variation on a familiar theme but told with Stevenson's unique charm. The final story is a delight--young readers will smile at the plight of the penguins as they try to walk on the slick ice and end up sliding into each other as they gain momentum. Throughout, the soft watercolors capture the humor of the stories perfectly. Stevenson's talent for conveying appropriate facial expressions on the animals with a slight pen stroke is remarkable. The book should please old fans and possibly garner some new ones. --Barbara S. McGinn, Oak Hill Elementary School, Severna Park, Md .
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

This lively and entertaining collection is comprised of three animal stories, each distinctly different from the next, but all embodied with a sense of spirited adventure and good-natured fun. In the first story, Waylon the elephant is depressed. On the occasion of his 249th birthday there is no present he has not already received once, no variety of birthday cake that he has not already sampled. Waylon's friends assess the situations and come up with a surprising solution. The second story involves an apologetic hippo named Gardner who searches in vain for a quiet place to nap, finding that even the bottom of the river can be crowded and aggravating. The crown jewel of the trilogy is "Slippery Ice," in which the struggles of six penguins trying to remain on a slippery iceberg makes for hilarious fun. These stories are loaded with gentle humor and peppered with dialogue that contributes considerable texture to the engaging storylines. Stevenson's pen and ink drawings, washed with color, are masterfully done and convey both the tender and funny aspects of the subjects with verve and style. Ages 6-up.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Greenwillow
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 068808236X
• ISBN 13: 9780688082369
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 48