Ereth's Birthday (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition) (Poppy Stories) [School & Library Binding]

Avi (Author), Brian Floca (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Poppy Stories

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Feeling neglected on his birthday, Ereth, the cantankerous old porcupine, sets out looking for his favorite treat and instead finds himself acting as ""mother"" to three young fox kits.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Helping others!" Ereth the porcupine snarls viciously. "Being good! It's all broccoli bunk and tick toffee."

On a birthday that he suspects everyone has forgotten, the last thing this grumpy old porcupine wants is to get involved in a sticky fox family predicament. But just as he's about to take a mouthful of his favorite treat, salt, he hears a weak voice calling for help, and his conscience trumps his desire. Soon he's embroiled in his worst nightmare: leaving his comfortable home to act as caretaker of three energetic, chatty, newly motherless fox kits. His longing for his stinky log home next door to his best friend, Poppy the mouse, lessens somewhat as he gets down to the business of keeping the young foxes fed and safe. Meanwhile, another four-legged hunter has his eye on Ereth, and the fox kits' father is nowhere to be found.

Avi has struck gold again with the latest addition the Dimwood Forest series. Hard life lessons and hilarious gems from Ereth's prickly lips ("fish feather fruitcakes!" "puckered peacocks!") mesh to create an entirely engaging story. Fans of Poppy, Poppy and Rye, and Avi's other highly entertaining titles will welcome the chance to meet up with their old furry and spiky friends again. (Ages 8 to 12) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Avi's (Poppy; Poppy and Rye; Ragweed) Dimwood Forest tales continue with this storyAequal parts humor and suspenseAthat puts a non-mouse character in the limelight for the first time. Convinced that his best friend Poppy and her family have overlooked his birthday, Ereth, a curmudgeonly porcupine, wanders off in search of his favorite treatAsalt. What he finds instead is an adventure he hadn't counted on: surrogate parenthood. He promises a female fox dying in a hunter's trap that he will look after her three kits until their father returns. Keeping the trio fed and out of trouble proves a Herculean task, one that teaches Ereth much about the ties that bind even as it softens some of his rough edges. His steadfast if grumpy devotion is rewarded when the three save him from an attack by a cunning fisher (a furry, four-legged creature with a hankering for porcupines). Avi delivers another crackling good read, one shot through with memorable descriptions (snow "sleeved tree branches in white") and crisp, credible dialogue. Above all, showcasing Ereth allows the author free range with his cantankerous character's trademark asides ("Babies. Nothing but poop and puke, puke and poop") and outbursts ("Sour snake sauce on spaghetti!"), many of which will have readers chuckling. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• School & Library Binding: 224 pages
• Publisher: Turtleback (September 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0613442067
• ISBN-13: 978-0613442060
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,320,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Much Awaited Return!, October 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ereth's Birthday (The Poppy Stories) (Hardcover)

Ereth returns in this, the fourth book in the Dimwood Forest series. I am a fourth and fifth grade teacher. I have read the entire series to my students and they absolutely love it! The classic battle between good and evil and through it all, Ereth's wonderful, hilariously scathing view of all around him---except Poppy, of course! In this book, Ereth experiences all of the joys of parenthood, even if it was by accident! This book simply flows along. My students did not want it to end, and neither did I!

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best of the series!, May 13, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Ereth's Birthday (The Poppy Stories) (Hardcover)

Now you can read Tales from Dimwood Forest in the proper order, Ragweed, Poppy, Poppy & Rye, and the last, Ereth's own book, Ereth's Birthday. It is so funny! The best of the series!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Class Review, October 13, 2011

By 

ACE - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ereth's Birthday (The Poppy Stories) (Paperback)

Our teacher read the book Ereth's Birthday to us. We thought it was hilarious. We think every class should hear this book read aloud.

Ereth was disappointed that Poppy wasn't waiting for him on his birthday with a present. He got angry and took a walk in the forest. While on his walk in the forest he found a mother fox whimpering in a trap. Ereth promised the dying fox that he would take care of her kits. Little did he know, Marty the fisher was stalking him. Ereth had so much fun taking care of the foxes that he didn't realize he was being hunted.

We would recommend purchasing this great book that is filled with funny alliterations from Ereth and lots of adventure.