A little boy is planning his birthday party. However, everyone he invites has an excuse for not coming--except for his best friend Georgie, who is the one person he really wants there anyway. This is a warm, life-affirming book with a valuable message-that enjoying close and meaningful relationships with people who genuinely understand you is far more important than popularity. One of my favourite touches is the pet dog, always positioned faithfully near his owner, a gentle reminder that friends don’t necessarily have to come in human form. Children will love the bright, lively illustrations, while parents will smile at the wry humour of the written text. Perhaps the greatest strength of this book, however, is that while it is overwhelmingly positive in tone, it is in no way saccharine or simplistic. The unthinking cruelty of children is hinted at, with the flimsy excuses many of them offer for not coming to the party, making it patently obvious that they simply don’t like the little boy. The latter’s forlorn facial expressions and dejected body language poignantly communicate the idea that while these children are nothing compared to Georgie, their rejection still hurts. Suitable for ages four to six, this would be particularly appropriate for children starting school, and struggling to gain acceptance.

Leonie Jordan is a high-school English teacher and former children’s bookseller

This review from Australian Bookseller & Publisher magazine is reproduced by kind permission of Thorpe-Bowker, a division of R R Bowker LLC. © Copyright 2008, Thorpe-Bowker

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