The Birthday Mix-Up

Billie B Brown #10

by Sally Rippin

Billie's party is going to be the best ever. She has lots of fun games planned! But what if Billie's friends don't like her party? Or worse... what if they don't come?

Genres: Childrens, Chapter Books

47 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2011

About the author

Sally Rippin was born in Darwin, but grew up mainly in South-East Asia. As a young adult she lived in China for three years, studying traditional Chinese painting. Sally has over seventy books published, many of them award-winning, including two novels for young adults. Her most recent work includes the highly acclaimed children’s novel Angel Creek and the popular Billie B Brown books, which became the highest selling series for 6-8 year olds in Australia within the first year of their release. Sally is Australia’s highest selling female author and her Billie B Brown books have sold more than 4.5 million copies in 14 languages.
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Sally is a popular presenter in schools and at literary festivals both in Australia and overseas and has a regular program on 3RRR interviewing children’s authors and industry professionals. She is a passionate ambassador for the 100 Story Building creative writing centre for marginalized youth and has mentored many emerging writers and illustrators. Recently, she and her partner co-founded Story Peddlers, a hand-made performance tent that packs away into a custom-built bike, with the aim of bringing back the art of the roving storyteller.

Reviews

[Niamh]

i was obsessed with this dress when i was younger

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another lovely story by Sally Rippin.
I bought this set for my daughter at christmas and shes really enjoying them. We share these books at bedtime taking it in turns to read pages.
These books are really easy to follow and all have a meaning in them.

[Denise Tannock]

Another favourite of my granddaughter. These books have engendered an interest in reading for her.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started reading the Billie B Brown series with Miss 6, who is developing independence as a reader. 'The Birthday Mix-Up' is the tenth in the series. Billie is sure her party will be the best ever, she has everything planned. Now all she needs is for her friends to show up...

The book is well written and full of fun. It really captured the imagination of my Little Reader.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Billie B. is stressing horribly over her birthday...which seems to be going horribly. Book felt like it ended a little abruptly with a picture instead of an ending. Would have liked an extra chapter here.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute children's easy reader.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS book inspired my seven-year-old daughter to just start reading along with me. We’ve struggled to get her to be more fluent and willing to read something in front of her. She didn’t want to read road signs (but she did when she started learning how to read), title of movies, let alone titles of videos on YouTube. This book inspired her. It made her giggle. It was an enjoyable book to read together. It has simple words, most of which are decipherable for a basic first or second grade reading level. My daughter didn’t know a couple of the vowel teams yet but was able to decode most of the words. I read and pointed to the words and this inspired her to just begin reading a few sentences here and there. It’s a great start! Before we know it, she’ll be taking off and sneaking reading late at night like her brothers (and of course her mama). Fun book, likable character. We’re for sure getting more of this series!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billie is going to have the best party ever! She has ten invitations and she thinks she wrote the right things, but no one comes except for Jack. They wait on Billie's doorstep for an hour, but no one comes. Then Billie runs into her house and her mom comes out and says, "Billie, are you sure you wrote the right time and place?" Billie said, "Yes." Then Jack ran in and grabbed his invitation and said, "You wrote the wrong time! That's why they're not coming!" Then Billie said, "I might not be a good birthday remember-er, but I sure am a good birthday setuper-er!" Then in 10 minutes everyone comes.

I gave this 5 stars because I really liked the part when everyone showed up, and the games at the party were really fun.

[Niamh Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and realistic story. My 6 and 8 year old nephew and niece loved the dilemma of the incorrect party time and felt relief when it all came good in the end. I'd agree with other reviewers that the end felt abrupt!

[Jill Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little early reader book and part of Sally Rippin’s Billy B series. The simple story shares the excitement a young girl feels as she prepares for her birthday.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would've preferred a more concrete ending but it's otherwise fine

[Andy Hickman · Rating 3 out of 5]

9-Sally Rippin, “Billie B Brown: The Birthday Mix-up” (​​Prahran, Victoria, Aust: Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011).
Who to invite? Everybody or just some? This story deals with hopes, disappointments, making mistakes, and everything turning out OK in the end.

The 'Billie B Brown' series by Australian author Sally Rippin is a wonderful set of books helping young kids acknowledge and deal with their range of emotions that arise from various childhood predicaments. These books reinforce the positive outcome of good decision making.

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Billy B Brown and Hey Jack! books are well loved in my household. At this stage we still read them together, and it makes perfect reading when they just want a cuddle and a book, but might not want a picture book. I specifically bought them because they are great starter novels for an early reader, and the stories tend to be humorous and relatable.