Arthur's Birthday Party
Arthur the chimpanzee ( "Arthur's Christmas Cookies, Arthur's Funny Money" ) is planning a birthday party. After defensively putting down the "babyish" ideas of younger sister Violet, Arthur settles on the idea of a gymnastics party, where there will be prizes and he will win. Norman and Wilma and Violet et al enthusiastically throw themselves into practicing for the big day, with Arthur out of sorts because they are all too busy practicing to play with him. On the day of the party, Arthur performs wonderfully-but so do all his friends. Fortunately for Arthur, although Norman is best on the trampoline and Wilma and Violet are the best team, Arthur gets the prize for "best all-around gymnast." "'Just like I said I would!' yelled Arthur." Hoban manages to pull off the unusual feat of a complete and empowering absence of grown-ups by setting the book outside-mostly in the vicinity of Arthur's play structure and yard-so that the presence of adults somewhere inside is reassuringly implicit. The happy resolution is not at all bland: there are some realistic sibling tensions and less than selfless impulses along the way. A welcome, and perhaps last, addition to the series.