A review by reader44ever
A Birthday for Frances by Russell Hoban
2.0
1.5 stars
While I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book, the story wasn't the greatest and I don't particularly want my young nieces to read this one. Much of this reason relates to the primary character: Frances the Badger. There were a number of things I didn't care for in this story:
I did not like how Frances used random letters to spell words, and I especially did not like that her mother did not correct her or help her understand how to properly spell those words. I did not like that her mother was so blasé about Frances' jealousies surrounding Gloria's birthday; I think the mother should have talked with Frances about her feelings. I also didn't like that Frances ate the four gumballs she bought for Gloria with the money her mother advanced her from her allowance, and again she wasn't corrected by her parents for doing so. And lastly, I didn't like the final illustration or the story's ending. In the illustration, Frances's expression doesn't look happy for her sister, instead she seems to be wearing an expression of longing for the Chompo Bar. And I had hoped that Gloria would at least offer to share the Chompo Bar with her sister and friends before eating it all in front of them right then and there. I was raised better, and I hope children nowadays are, too.
About the only way I can see this story being acceptable for young children is if it is a read-aloud book with a parent or another older friend/relative who can point out the problems I've mentioned above and explain proper behaviors. But for children reading alone, as I did when I was young (I started reading early and loved it), this is not a good book, in my opinion.
While I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book, the story wasn't the greatest and I don't particularly want my young nieces to read this one. Much of this reason relates to the primary character: Frances the Badger. There were a number of things I didn't care for in this story:
I did not like how Frances used random letters to spell words, and I especially did not like that her mother did not correct her or help her understand how to properly spell those words. I did not like that her mother was so blasé about Frances' jealousies surrounding Gloria's birthday; I think the mother should have talked with Frances about her feelings. I also didn't like that Frances ate the four gumballs she bought for Gloria with the money her mother advanced her from her allowance, and again she wasn't corrected by her parents for doing so. And lastly, I didn't like the final illustration or the story's ending. In the illustration, Frances's expression doesn't look happy for her sister, instead she seems to be wearing an expression of longing for the Chompo Bar. And I had hoped that Gloria would at least offer to share the Chompo Bar with her sister and friends before eating it all in front of them right then and there. I was raised better, and I hope children nowadays are, too.
About the only way I can see this story being acceptable for young children is if it is a read-aloud book with a parent or another older friend/relative who can point out the problems I've mentioned above and explain proper behaviors. But for children reading alone, as I did when I was young (I started reading early and loved it), this is not a good book, in my opinion.