K-Gr 2-Beginning readers familiar with Willems's books will recognize his distinctive humor and illustrative style in these stories. When Piggie receives her first invitation to a party, she asks Gerald to join her and relies on his advice-because he "knows" parties-in order to prepare for the big event. The elephant, however, has a tendency to overanalyze, so he prepares them both for any contingency-a fancy/pool/costume party. Piggie's expressive features show her questions about their attire, but the friends set off bedecked in flippers, masks, top hat, pearl earrings, cowboy hat, and evening dress. Imagine her surprise when they find all the other guests as lavishly overdressed as they are. In the second title, Gerald learns that there are worse things than a bird on your head, namely, two love birds, a nest, and three hatchlings. With the help of Piggie, he is finally able to ask them to move, but, as the final page reveals, they have become her problem. Both books use speech bubbles-gray ones for Gerald, pink for Piggie-to tell the entire story. This feature is a nice touch that facilitates paired/choral readings. The conversation between the friends flows smoothly and allows beginning readers to practice expression as they read. These appealing titles will tickle the funny bones of children and are sure to become favorites.-Maura Bresnahan, High Plain Elementary School, Andover, MA Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Elephant and Piggie return in two more adventures that will deliver guffaws to even the most beginning reader. As in Today I Will Fly and My Friend Is Sad (March 2007), the text appears exclusively in speech balloons, the dialogue perfectly complemented and enhanced by clear cartoon illustrations that show a master of body language and pacing at the top of his game. In I Am Invited to a Party! Piggie, a novice at parties, asks Gerald the Elephant for advice: "I know parties," he says sagely. The two celebrate the invitation and prepare in ever more absurd fashion—it may be a "fancy pool costume party," after all, and "WE MUST BE READY!" The end defies all prediction in a goodhearted, highly satisfying twist that will have readers giggling with delight. In There Is a Bird on Your Head! (ISBN: 978-1-4231-0686-9), Piggie provides narration to an ever-more-frantic Gerald as two birds alight, nest and hatch their brood on his head. Both are perfectly pitched to their audience, who are too often given the dreariest of stuff to cut their reading teeth on. This silliness is sublime. (Early reader. 4-8)