Awesome Orange Birthday (The Party Diaries #1)
by Mitali Banerjee Ruths (Author) Aaliya Jaleel (Illustrator)
In this full-color early chapter book series, Priya starts a party-planning business to help save the planet -- one party at a time!
Pick a book. Grow a Reader!
This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!
Priya is excited to plan her aunty's birthday party. She will donate the money she makes to help the cutest endangered animal on the planet, the quokka! But the party is this Saturday! With so many items on her to-do list, can she get it all done in time? Priya sends out handmade invitations, makes DIY decorations, and sets an orange-only snacks menu -- including pumpkin samosas! Will Priya's very first party be a success?
With speech bubbles, easy-to-read text, and vibrant artwork on every page, this series is perfect for newly independent readers!
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Kirkus
Priya is a well-rounded, nuanced protagonist whose enthusiasm and anxiety will resonate with readers, and the narrative, peppered with bright images, is fast-moving... A layered, upbeat tale starring a determined, relatable protagonist.
School Library Journal
Gr 1-4--Priya is launching her own business, party planning! After successfully planning and hosting her three-year-old brother's birthday party, Priya is organizing her aunt Layla's, too. The prospect of this new adventure is both exciting and nerve-wracking. Every day after school, Priya spends time planning for her special aunty, with the help of friend and neighbor Melissa. Some of Priya's family appear in traditional Indian attire, and the amazing menu presented reflects Priya's culture as well. It's clear that Priya has some form of anxiety, and it is normalized through the character development. The 10 chapters, each from eight to 12 pages long, make for a readable and well-paced text for youngsters. Each page has color illustrations, and a variety of techniques are used for visual supports, including word bubbles, glossaries, lists, and maps. While this is a work of fiction, there is an element of nonfiction in the depiction of what party planning entails: supplies, menu planning, and DIY decorations, to name a few. VERDICT This series debut aimed at newly independent readers provides short, colorful, diary-style entries with a sweet central character. Strongly recommended.--Linda Annable
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.ALA/Booklist
Priya's infectious enthusiasm shines through the diary format... This series opener gets an enjoyable party started for beginning readers.
Review quotes
Praise for Archie Celebrates Diwali by Mitali Banerjee Ruths:
This sweet picture book about sharing Diwali will ring true in many households. — Kirkus Reviews
A reassuring portrayal of childhood anxieties. — Booklist
AALIYA JALEEL is a freelance illustrator, designer, and visual development artist. She is a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas with a BA in Arts & Technology. She is the illustrator of Maryam's Magic: The Story of Mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani, Under My Hijab, Muslim Girls Rise, and the Scholastic Branches series The Party Diaries.
JUV045000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Chapter Books
JUV074000 - Juvenile Fiction | Diversity & Multicultural
East Indian Americans
Birthdays
