The Unforgettable Party

by Noemi Vola

A hilarious, quirky picture book about the power of imagination and learning to enjoy your own company, for fans of Carson Ellis and Jon Klassen.

Caterpillar is SO bored. But everyone knows the best cure for a marvelous, super-long, super-fun, unforgettable party! He already has everything he apple juice, confetti, decorations, party hats and star stickers to stick on your face. Everything is perfect, except for one missing FRIENDS.

Unfortunately, none of Caterpillar's friends are available. Caterpillar is SO sad. But then he comes up with an ingenious using a marker, he creates six new friends . . . on himself! After introducing themselves and shaking each others' hands (or feet), it's time for the party to begin. They dance, they play, they put on costumes and even eat seven feet of pizza. It's a marvelous time!

But what happens when the party is over? Will Caterpillar's new friends leave him? Find out in this delightfully quirky picture book.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

48 pages, Hardcover

Published August 31, 2021

About the author

Noemi Vola has a degree in comics and illustration from the Cademy of Fine Arts in Bologna. She lives in Italy.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ummm.... it was forgettable.






Publication Date 13/08/21
Goodreads review published 13/09/21

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most harrowing book the world has seen since Norwegian Nobel Laureate Knut Hamsun penned "Hunger" in 1890.

The Caterpillar wants to have a party, but all the other animals turn down his invitation. Not wanting to cancel the party, he paints faces on his body segments and pretends like they're his friends/guests. When he passes out alone at his own delusional party, he dreams that his painted body segments also abandon him, leaving him completely alone, as a head floating through space.

He wakes up, realizes it was just a dream, feels relief, and then the book ends with him taking a bath. It feels weirdly incomplete. I assume they cut out the final page with the toaster, since it's a kids book.

5 stars all the same.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I read this book with my 3-year-old nephew and he thought it was fun (he really liked seeing the caterpillar walking on his antennae). The illustrations were kid like and although my nephew was sad that the caterpillar didn't have any friends, he liked that he drew friends on the different parts of his body.

While I read picture books to my 9 and 10-year-old students, I think this one is on the younger side for them but young readers (3-6 years-old) would find this enjoyable. I did think the ending was a bit abrupt, but overall a cute story.

[Kai · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m mostly confused. This started out as a super cute story, very much veered into a strange place, and then ended so suddenly.

I can definitely see the lesson of learning to enjoy your own company, but I’m not sure it’s fully executed here. The ending also could have used…well, an ending.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tundra Books, and Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Emilee (emileereadsbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Tundra Books for a free digital copy for my review.

A very unique and cute story about learning how to entertain yourself. I really thought it was fun. The illustrations are quirky and the text is simple but entertaining.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ummmm… when no one wants to come to Caterpillars party he makes new friends. Its new friends are different parts of itself. It has a grand time, but a nightmare makes it worry about all of them leaving him, and then it takes a bath. That is where the story ends, but this bath would make the friends leave since they were just drawn on to begin with. This is actually a really sad book wrapped up to be a comedy.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Unforgettable Party was an adorable story about making your own fun when you are alone. It is great to show kids how they can play alone and don't always need someone there to be entertained and escape boredom. I think this is a good book for any child, but it will definitely hit home with an only child or a child without siblings close in age!

I just reviewed The Unforgettable Party by Noemi Vola. #NetGalley #ChildrensLibrarian

[Ileana (The Tiniest Book Club) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's MAGIC! Every single one of @volanoemi's books becomes an all-time favorite for me, instantly. I just love her genius illustrations, the details, her themes. This one is from 2021, not translated into German (whyyyy) and it is about imaginary friends.

Caterpillar is bored. He has read all the books on his bookshelf and found all the partners for his missing socks. That is why Caterpillar decides to throw a super fun party. He has apple juice, pizza, party hats for everyone, but Spider, Snail and Elephant all have excuses. Caterpillar is sad. And then he has a brilliant idea: he makes himself six friends (all segments of his caterpillar body) and throws a marvellous party for them.

The cheeky humor is off the charts and right up my alley. What a great party gift for children and grown-ups alike!

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the digital advance reading copy of this book.

This was an interesting book. Caterpillar is unable to get his friends together for a party so he comes up with a different solution. I think kids will enjoy how creative Caterpillar gets to make his party happen.

[Brandon Dyer (Children's Librarian) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great growing up story about not having a lot of friends. For some kids, making friends can be hard especially when it comes to celebrating your own birthday. The Caterpillar decides to create imaginary friends that attend his birthday party. I love that Noemi Vola shows to readers that imagination can turn a not so happy event into a positive outcome.

[Chelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weird, sad, kinda pathetic. I will definitely forget this book.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

So wonderfully weird and sadly funny and also so hilarious I think I snort laughed a couple times. Poor Caterpillar! If he ever throws another party, I would definitely attend!

[Suong Thach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leuk dramatisch boek!

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I say five stars. It was sad he had no friends but then he made his own friends. I learned what unforgettable means. I like that he bought stickers for his friends to put on their faces.” - Lucas

[Claire]

Titolo italiano: "Una festa indimenticabile"

[Wenjing]

属于自闭症小孩的派对，自己和自己也能玩得开心。