Birthday Surprises: Ten Great Stories to Unwrap

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7?This unique collection of short stories celebrates the creative power of imagination. At Hurwitz's invitation, 10 well-known children's authors have written pieces based on a single premise: a young person finds an empty box (beautifully wrapped) among his or her birthday gifts. The enormously varied responses range in tone from amusing to heartwarmingly sad; all provide food for thought. In the selections by Barbara Ann Porte, Ellen Conford, and Richard Peck, selfish girls fail to see or appreciate the symbolism of their gifts while Pam Conrad, Ann Martin, and David Adler depict children who understand the love their gifts represent. On a more somber note, Jane Yolen and James Howe depict characters who, while dealing with death, find courage and hope in their "empty" boxes. Karla Kuskin and Hurwitz herself add the lightest touches with an amusing poem and a story told through a collection of irate letters. Certainly each author handles the premise differently, but they all write with immediacy. Taken as a whole, this collection displays effective use of dialogue, vivid characterizations, accessible language, and intriguing plots that reach into the hearts and minds of preadolescent readers. The thoughtful arrangement nicely varies the pacing. This is a book to read for fun or in conjunction with writing assignments. An excellent surprise package.?Maggie McEwen, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, MECopyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4^-6. Gift giving and receiving are the themes of this anthology. Hurwitz invited some of the best children's authors to contribute a story about a beautifully wrapped present that turns out to be empty. The result of such writing to order is, predictably, mixed: some stories are surprising, some are close to formula. Nearly all play with the idea that empty means full: the empty box is filled with love and anger, and with history, and with imagination. The power of these stories is in the telling: Richard Peck's Blossom Culp is her irrepressible self, the dirt-poor, vulnerable outsider who gets revenge on the snotty clique. Ellen Conford's narrator reveals how phony she is; she deserves a humiliating present. There are some real tearjerkers, too, including Pam Conrad's heartfelt story of reunion. The proceeds from this book will be donated to two national writing programs to encourage the enjoyment of writing and reading. Hazel Rochman

School Library Journal - starred review
"An excelent surprise package."

Book Description
"This unique collection of short stories celebrates the creative power of imagination. At Hurwitz's invitation 10 well-known children's authors have written pieces based on a single premise: a young person finds an empty box among his or her birthday gifts. The enormously varied responses range in tone from amusing to heartwarmingly sad; all provide food for thought....An excellent surprise package."--School Library Journal.

About the Author
Johanna Hurwitz is the award-winning author of many popular books for young readers. She lives in Great Neck, New York, and Wilmington, Vermont.


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Gr 4-7-This unique collection of short stories celebrates the creative power of imagination. At Hurwitz's invitation, 10 well-known children's authors have written pieces based on a single premise: a young person finds an empty box (beautifully wrapped) among his or her birthday gifts. The enormously varied responses range in tone from amusing to heartwarmingly sad; all provide food for thought. In the selections by Barbara Ann Porte, Ellen Conford, and Richard Peck, selfish girls fail to see or appreciate the symbolism of their gifts while Pam Conrad, Ann Martin, and David Adler depict children who understand the love their gifts represent. On a more somber note, Jane Yolen and James Howe depict characters who, while dealing with death, find courage and hope in their ``empty'' boxes. Karla Kuskin and Hurwitz herself add the lightest touches with an amusing poem and a story told through a collection of irate letters. Certainly each author handles the premise differently, but they all write with immediacy. Taken as a whole, this collection displays effective use of dialogue, vivid characterizations, accessible language, and intriguing plots that reach into the hearts and minds of preadolescent readers. The thoughtful arrangement nicely varies the pacing. This is a book to read for fun or in conjunction with writing assignments. An excellent surprise package.-Maggie McEwen, Coffin Elementary School, Brunswick, ME


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