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Jeanne Willis
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Boa's Bad Birthday (Andersen Press Picture Books) Hardcover – Picture Book, April 1, 2014

by Jeanne Willis (Author), Tony Ross (Illustrator)
4.6 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
It is Boa's birthday. It is going to be the best one ever. Or so he hopes. He invites his friends round. They will all bring him wonderful presents. . . .or will they?
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  1. Reading age
    4 - 9 years
  2. Print length
    32 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Grade level
    Preschool - 3
  5. Dimensions
    9.75 x 0.25 x 11.5 inches
  6. Publisher
    Andersen Press USA
  7. Publication date
    April 1, 2014
  8. ISBN-10
    1467734500
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1467734509
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2—Who doesn't look forward with anticipation to a birthday party and all the thoughtful presents their friends will bring? Boa the constrictor is no exception. As each guest brings a gift, Boa is consistently disappointed: Orangutan gives Boa a piano, but he has no fingers. Monkey brought sunglasses, but Boa has no way to wear them. Though the gifts bring disappointment, Boa's mother reminds him to be gracious. In a twist, it turns out that Dung Beetle gives the best present of all. Illustrations were done in pen, ink, and watercolor in Ross's trademark bright, bold style. The text and images are perfectly balanced and enticingly draw the reader's eye to the next page. A stellar choice for students to learn the fine art of graciously accepting gifts.—Janene Corbin, Rosebank Elementary School, Nashville, TN

Review

"On the cover of this picture book, an impossibly cute, sad-looking boa lolls from a tree branch, birthday hat on his head. What could possibly be the matter?
Boa is having a bad birthday. Each time one of his jungle friends arrives for his party, Boa bolsters his hopes for a wonderful present only to be disappointed. Orangutan gives him a piano; but Boa has no fingers! Monkey brings him sunglasses; but Boa can't wear them without ears and a nose! Willis gets the tone just right, likely eliciting both gales of laughter and sympathy from youngsters. Ross' loose, colorful pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations capture the ridiculous situations and poor Boa's reactions. The comedic high comes when Dung Beetle arrives with a pile of You Know What! In an ingenious twist, Dung Beetle's gift turns out to be absolutely perfect. Unfortunately, the tale does not end there. In closing, readers are admonished to accept all gifts with gratitude, and in a non sequitur household scene that will provoke more confusion than satisfaction, a delighted child is seen receiving Boa as a gift.
Festive fare that ultimately misses the mark." ―Kirkus Reviews

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Andersen Press USA; Illustrated edition (April 1, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 32 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1467734500
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1467734509
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 4 - 9 years
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9.75 x 0.25 x 11.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

About the author

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Jeanne Willis

Jeanne Willis

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Jeanne Willis is an award-winning children's author, published worldwide. She has written over 150 books including picture books, novelty, teen novels and poetry. She was shortlisted for the Whitbread for her novel Naked Without a Hat, won the Smarties Silver for Tadpole's Promise, the Nasen Special Needs Award for Susan Laughs and many more besides. Recently, she won the Sheffield for Who’s in The Loo and is short-listed for The Red House Children’s Book Award for Bottoms Up. Her novel Dumb Creatures is in production.

Jeanne has over 20 years experience as an advertising copywriter and has created T.V, cinema and radio commercials for major clients including Heinz, Mencap and British Gas (If you see Sid, tell him!) She has also written hundreds of T.V scripts including The Slow Norris, Dog and Duck, The Twins, Maisy (Best Script, British Animation Awards) Marvellous Milly, The Ark, Upstairs Downstairs Bears, Dr Xargle and The Wombles.

Jeanne Lives in North London with two kids, two cats, a rabbit, 99 tadpoles and a Bogbaby.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
21 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Kayla Kuni
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Message
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This book sends a great message to children about how it is important to say "thank you" for gifts even when they are not gifts that are necessarily wanted. I thought the illustrations were cute enough and the text was basic enough that a small child would appreciate it. That being said, the last jungle critter to be introduced (the dung beetle), and his present (guess), might throw a few parents for a loop. There is one line that Boa thinks that made me crack up, but I can see some parents not so thrilled with it.

    Overall, I felt this book teaches a good lesson. Boa is pouting about gifts others are getting him, but others are also getting him gifts they themselves like. It does not feel as if any of the other characters thought about Boa at all when they bought gifts for him. In this respect, the book teaches kids not only to be thankful for what gifts they get from others, but also to be thoughtful when they give gifts to others.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • k
    5.0 out of 5 stars It’s a winner!!!! Must have for your library!!!!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Great great story!!!!! Teaches a lesson on being grateful. So glad I have this to read with my grandchildren. Should be apart of all children’s libraries.
    One person found this helpful
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  • M. Tanenbaum
    5.0 out of 5 stars hilarious new picture book
    Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2014
    Every kid has experienced getting a present he can't stand and having to pretend that he likes it. Find out what happens when all of Boa's jungle friends bring him the worst presents ever in this hilarious new picture book. Whimsically illustrated by Tony Ross, this book offers perhaps the only boa constrictor you'll see in a birthday hat.
    One person found this helpful
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  • T MARCHAN
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    none
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  • Mihaela C
    3.0 out of 5 stars Just alright
    Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    My daughter had learned about this book at school, during a birthday party celebration.
    The story is just alright, it does not provide any educational, moral story. I read it again to her when we got it delivered but she was never again interested in the book.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Sunmaid
    5.0 out of 5 stars Toll!
    Reviewed in Germany on October 25, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Ein sehr amüsantes englisches Kinderbuch. Ich werde es in meiner bilingualen Kindergartengruppe einsetzen und ich bin mir sicher, dass es gut ankommen wird.
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  • paulbrad
    5.0 out of 5 stars GET THIS FOR EVERYONE YOU KNOW WHO HAS A BITHDAY COMING UP!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    What a fun read - read to 5 year old, allowed a 10 year old to read it for themself and plenty of adults have read it as I have passed it around at Christmas.
    Great fun - great meaning.
    Thank you Jeanne Willis for another fabulous book.
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