Fortunately, Ned was invited to a surprise party.
Unfortunately, the party was a thousand miles away.
Fortunately, a friend loaned Ned an ai... read full description
reviews
Apr 26, 2009
Chandra
rated it: 
Absolutely loved this one! Ned's luck goes from good to bad to good to bad every other page. We're talking holes in parachutes, shark infested waters, and hungry tigers. FORTUNATELY, Ned has some good luck too! I loved the matching illustrations! Highly recommended!
Feb 21, 2012
Emily
rated it:
The main character Ned is a fortunate individual when he receives an invitation to a surprise party. However, as he endeavors to attend the party, fortune is not always his friend. A fantastic journey ensues as Ned encounters a connected string of situations that alternate between impeding or advancing his mission. Illustrations mirror these varying circumstances: full color spreads pleasantly depict fortunate events while black and white images portray unfortunate circumstances. So consisten
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Jun 29, 2010
Abigail
rated it: 
This amusing picture-book follows the wildly fluctuating fortunes of Ned, a young New York boy who is (fortunately) invited to a surprise party. Unfortunately, the party is far away... but fortunately, a friend loans Ned an airplane. Unfortunately, the motor explodes... but fortunately, Ned makes it to the parachute. And so it goes, back and forth, as Ned makes his adventure-filled way to a party, where there is one final twist in store...
I enjoyed Remy Charlip's Fortunately - my fir More...
I enjoyed Remy Charlip's Fortunately - my fir More...
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(4 people liked it)
Jan 20, 2012
June
rated it: 
Told in alternating spreads of Ned's adventures after he fortunately receives a birthday invitation, unfortunately he is in New York and the party is in Florida. I usually start be asking if anyone knows what Fortunately means and then tell them unfortunately means something bad happens. I then have them put thumbs up for the good things and thumbs down for the bad.
Nov 16, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Ha ha ha ha ha. Oh, How I love this book. It had been lost in my sea of to-read books until a (non-Goodreads) friend mentioned it to me last night. Fortunately, my branch library had a copy on their shelves and I borrowed it this morning. (Unfortunately, I’ll have to return the book since the library owns it and I don’t own a copy.)
I think this book is hilarious. The story with happenings that go between fortunately and unfortunately (good luck vs. bad luck) is very funny and the acc More...
I think this book is hilarious. The story with happenings that go between fortunately and unfortunately (good luck vs. bad luck) is very funny and the acc More...
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(6 people liked it)
Jan 25, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
A very funny picture book about a boy named Ned on his way to a surprise party. Kids will love this book and laugh out loud! The fortunate or positive things that happen are in color, while the negative or unfortunate things are in black & white to differentiate. Ages 4-8.
Jun 02, 2011
Amanda
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We've read this one a lot since it is simple and funny. Love the back and forth between fortunately and unfortunately and black and white with color. It is ridiculous and unlikely, but that's probably what makes it so enjoyable!
Apr 30, 2009
Susan
rated it:
This was on some list of classic kids books, maybe on Oprah's website? One page is Fortunately,....then the next is Unfortunately,... - pretty funny, hard to believe, a little scary, and Lola really liked it.
Jul 15, 2009
Megan
rated it: 
this book was a cute book i wouldnt recomend it to anyone becasuse it was very boring and didnt really have a climax to the problem plus i would have never read it if it wasnt book of the month
Jun 09, 2009
Karen
rated it:
An ok, short read. I like the contrasting between the fortunate and the unfortunate situations. Though I didn't really like how dire some of the unfortunate instances may be to young, young kids: possibility of landing on a pitch fork?? all these sharks chasing you.
Apr 06, 2009
Chak
rated it:
Good silver lining / problem solving book in that kids see that every problem has a solution, not that this book is a brain teaser or that the reader actually solves the problem. Ages 6-9.
Jan 11, 2012
Sarah
rated it:
Remy Charlip is a choreographer, dancer, poet, artist and children's book author. He's also one of my favorite authors of children's books.
His books are surreal and playful. Fortunately builds on a series of events much like The House the Jack Built nursery rhyme. Each new event poses a new problem that requires a solution. The problem comes with "unfortunately" and the solution is provided with "fortunately."
The basic story follow's Ned's travels from New More...
His books are surreal and playful. Fortunately builds on a series of events much like The House the Jack Built nursery rhyme. Each new event poses a new problem that requires a solution. The problem comes with "unfortunately" and the solution is provided with "fortunately."
The basic story follow's Ned's travels from New More...
Mar 21, 2011
Becky
rated it:
I've heard this story told as a joke, almost a stand-up routine -- turns out it's a great picture book, too! A fortunately/unfortunately story would be a great writing prompt.
Jun 04, 2011
Kirei
rated it:
Good things and bad things alternately happen to Ned. My son liked this book.
We talked about where Florida and New York are in relation to each other.
We talked about where Florida and New York are in relation to each other.
May 27, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Not a bad book for the concepts of fortunately and unfortunately. But, the child is placed in some very odd and dangerous situations which I didn't like.
Jun 23, 2011
Meagan
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Another 1st grade read aloud. A little funny and old fashioned seeming, but entertaining and really got the kids engaged and laughing.
Sep 27, 2010
Beth
rated it:
Funny book, great for guessing what might happen next. Kids had a blast making up possible twists for the story.
Aug 02, 2010
Mell
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Great to teach cause and effect in your classroom. Very basic picture book, but lends itself well to the strategy.
Jul 12, 2010
Inspired Kathy
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it's fortunately versus unfortunately in this book describing Ned's adventure while trying to get to a surprise party.
Jan 05, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
Best read-aloud for older kids. Good for class visits with lower elem. Funny! I have it almost memorized.
Dec 31, 2011
Trevor
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Read in 2nd grade as a class. It is a funny book of coincidences. read if you like a laugh:P
Dec 16, 2008
Margaret K
rated it:
A very satisfying ending to a fun game which would teach what "fortunately" means.
Oct 12, 2010
Rachel
rated it:
Love the back and forth of the events and how the pictures mirror that. Very fun.
May 20, 2010
Dianna
rated it:
I remembered reading this as a child although I didn't remember it much. My three-year-old son loved it! It made him laugh, and also taught him the meaning of the word "fortunately." I like the alternating use of color illustrations for the "fortunately" pages and the black-and-white for the "unfortunately" pages. Also the simple, humorous text and illustrations.
