The Surprise Party

Pat Hutchins' Woodland Friends

by Pat Hutchins

"I'm having a party tomorrow," Rabbit whispers to Owl. "It's a surprise." But Owl tell the news to Squirrel, he says, "Rabbit is hoeing the parsley tomorrow. It's a surprise." By the time word has spread to all of Rabbit's friends, it's anyone's guess just what it is that Rabbit will be doing tomorrow!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Humor

32 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 1969

About the author

Pat Hutchins is an English illustrator and writer of children's books.

She won the 1974 Kate Greenaway Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book illustration by a British subject. The work was The Wind Blew, a picture book in rhyme which she also wrote. It shows how "a crowd of people anxiously chase their belongings" in the wind.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

How does one start out with "Rabbit is having a party tomorrow," and end up with "Rabbit is reading his poetry tomorrow?" Simple! Pass the message from person to person (or animal to animal, as is the case here), and it will become progressively more garbled as it travels along from one to the next. This certainly proves to be the case with Rabbit's "surprise" news, creating a series of misunderstandings that make it difficult for him to get his friends to come to his party...

Another basic concept-book from English children's author Pat Hutchins, The Surprise Party addresses itself, with amusing results, to the errors that accumulate in the course of spoken communication - what we call "the game of telephone," here in the states. I picked it up, initially, because I'm planning to read The Silver Christmas Tree , and the characters from that book were apparently first introduced here. As is proving to be the case with many of this author's titles ( Rosie's Walk , Which Witch Is Which? ), I found it far more appealing than I had expected to, enjoying both the idea and the execution. A great, non-didactic way of introducing the idea of errors of transmission, this is also just a fun animal story, with colorful and appealing artwork.

[Jennifer B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little weird, maybe confusing, but it all came together in the end. Cute illustrations, too.

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun story about a message getting passed on and mixed up. The illustrations are what makes this book and the friendly animal characters. Having enjoyed Rosie's Walk, I was pleased to pick an old hardback copy of this from a book sale.

[Peacegal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, of-its-era artwork is a highlight in this funny story of the perils of miscommunication. I'd love to see these scenes recreated on art prints, curtains, ceramic ware, etc.

[Olivia S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually liked this book more than I expected to. The story is basically a game of broken telephone, in which Rabbit tells Owl that he's having a surprise party the next day, but the message changes as it gets passed on, and no one shows up for the party. The story has a happy, funny, sweet ending. The illustrations are unusual, but I don't mind them. Good for a party theme, for kids old enough to understand the misunderstanding. 4+

[Anthony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rabbit whispers to Owl that he is having a party tomorrow, but it's a surprise. As Owl repeats it, and others do the same the message is garbled, and every one hears something different. This book displays a version of the poplar children's game know as the "telephone game" and how subtle shifts in pronunciation can produce drastic and sometime hilarious changes.

[Ammie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this telephone tale.

[Valerie Wyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute little story that you can read to a group of kids and then play the "whisper what I say into the next person's ear" game. I especially love what the fox says back to the rabbit :).....

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big game of telephone and assumptions

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations and simple text tell the story of rabbit, who is planning a surprise party, and all of his friends - who don't quite get the message right. Just like the child's game of "telephone" rabbit tells his friend owl that he is having a party and it is a surprise….as owl passes the message to the next friend, well, the message gets a little garbled…rabbit is hoeing the parsley tomorrow…then the next friend hears that rabbit is reading his poetry tomorrow ("how dull"). It isn't until it is almost party time, that the real message gets through to the friends and they end up having a lovely time. Most of my audience was too young to know how to play "telephone" but they loved the illustrations and still found humor in the story.

[Ashley Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be a great book to use with children of all ages. With little chilren you can began by playing the game telephone and talk about how people's words get twisted as they are passed from one person to another. After reading the book with your children you can talk to them about how rumors get started and how at the end they can hurt peoples feelings. As a teacher you can talk to the children about always knowing 100% about something before they start telling others and spreading what they have heard.



IUS Library

[Roxann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book to read to kids. A rabbit plans to give a surprise party and whispers that to a friend who heard something different. He then shared that with another-who again heard something else. Many kids will giggle with this book.

[Jennesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for early readers about spreading rumors. No one wants to be talked about behind their back even when the person said it was a secret. Another moral is about how to be a loyal friend and not spread secrets to everyone.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rabbit's having a surprise party...but that's not what the other animals hear.

[Tuyet Tran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rumor has it. You can whisper one thing into a child ear and told them to pass it on to another.And wait for the result.

[Kelley Mcalhany]

Cute story about a rabbit that wants to throw a surprise party but he tells one person and they tell another a whole different story.

[Mai · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book. It had a good ending. I was a little confused in the middle of it. It might need to be read a couple of times to kids.

[Little Champs]

2090

[Kye Jenkins]

This book is surrounded by the idea of the game telephone and what can go wrong when you do not listen to your friend.