s her little sister Gloria's birthday approaches, Frances wavers between being generous'and being jealous. ‘[Frances] is every youngster who chafes at being the un-birthday child.
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Russell Hoban was the author of A Bargain for Frances, A Baby Sister for Frances, Best Friends for Frances, A Birthday for Frances, and Bread and Jam for Frances, all illustrated by Lillian Hoban. He also wrote Bedtime for Frances, illustrated by Garth Williams.
Lillian Hoban was the author and illustrator of many favorite I Can Read books, including Joe and Betsy the Dinosaur, Silly Tilly's Thanksgiving, and a series about Arthur the Chimpanzee. She also illustrated many picture books, including the classic stories about Frances.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Tyra Murray
Format:Hardcover
"A rainbow and a happy tree are not for Alice or for me. I will draw three-legged cats and caterpillars with ugly hats." Frances deals with birthday envy and how to be generous when her little sister's birthday rolls around. Another bright and endearing tale about a lovable little badger. She's a model for all of us who aspire to write children's stories. And kids love her too. This is one of my two-year-old's favorite stories.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is my daughter's favorite Frances book. It has some great Frances moments, such as the "spelling" of various words, the "riding" of her broom, Champ, and Frances's and Albert's discourse of the uselessness of younger sisters. It also captures with such truth the complicated feelings siblings have for one another, such as the moment where Frances announces that she is not getting her sister Gloria a birthday present and then dissolves into tears because she is the only one not getting Gloria a present. As always, Mother and Father Badger are gentle and wise in their handling of their imaginative and precocious offspring. It is no surprise that children have been continuously reading these books since they were published. As an aside, the portrayal of the simple, homemade birthday party is very refreshing in these days of elaborate, over-the-top children's parties.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderfully whimsical read, hilarious sub-text, great for kids
February 16, 2007
By A. Woodley
Format:Hardcover
This is a wonderful story, I love Hoban's books as they work well on both the adult and the child levels. This is bascially the story of Frances, a badger who is struggling with the fact that her little sister Gloria is having a birthday. Frances does not say it out loud, but rather through her actions and her little rhymes we realise that she is unhappy about it, that her sister seems to have all the birthdays and she doesn't have as many. Something which almost all children struggle with at some stage or another.
The lovely hting about this book is that the parents are so lovely and patient, and the sub-text is really fun for adults reading it. What Frances does makes for great fun. She borrows two weeks pocket money from her mother to buy Gloria a present, but then she ends up 'accidentally eating half of it - and the other half looks distinctly threatened by her justification.
I will guarantee your family will enjoy this story, and the other Frances stories as well - they are highly recommended as great good fun.
The lovely hting about this book is that the parents are so lovely and patient, and the sub-text is really fun for adults reading it. What Frances does makes for great fun. She borrows two weeks pocket money from her mother to buy Gloria a present, but then she ends up 'accidentally eating half of it - and the other half looks distinctly threatened by her justification.
I will guarantee your family will enjoy this story, and the other Frances stories as well - they are highly recommended as great good fun.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
We love Francis
We had to get this in hardback, we read this one regularly and have a few of here other books
Published 6 months ago by C. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
how to cope w/sibling rivalry
this book is a wonderful aid for young parents coping w/sibling rivalry. the hobans (the authors) portray a mom and dad who do some really effective things to help ease the pain... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Philip Sheridan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Frances's Focus
This is another satisfying story from Russell and Lillian Hoban. In this one, Frances's younger sister Gloria is having a birthday, so all the focus is on her. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Ohioan
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best kid's books ever
Frances is one of the most endearing characters in all of children's literature. The funny songs she makes up and the way she handles events that happen to all children make her... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Katherine Yuhas
4.0 out of 5 stars
Funny
Birthdays can be HARD when you're not the birthday child. Frances realistically is upset that her baby sister gets cake and presents and SHE DOES NOT. Read more
Published on May 15, 2010 by Ulyyf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Frances is at it again!
I fell in love with Frances when I was in college (!) taking a class for my teaching degree. The professor would read us a children's book every day to help us pick books to build... Read more
Published on February 7, 2010 by laundryforfive
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Delightful Experience of Envy and Love
Frances' sister Gloria is having a birthday party, and as the preparations commence Frances begins to deal with feelings of jealousy over the attention Gloria is receiving. Read more
Published on November 20, 2009 by Shanna A. Gonzalez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another stellar Frances book
I would like to meet Russell Hoban's kids, because these books are completely charming, and they absolutely must come from real life. Read more
Published on August 12, 2009 by C. Mellinger
5.0 out of 5 stars
Favorite Frances book
Honestly it's hard to choose a favorite Frances book-- with the exception of the first and most dated one ("Bedtime for Frances"), they are all pretty fabulous. Read more
Published on May 26, 2009 by K. Magowan
5.0 out of 5 stars
LOVE the Frances books!
The Frances books have been a favorite of mine since I was little, but as a child I never realized how well written and witty all the books are. Read more
Published on April 3, 2009 by Erin
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