Starred Review ALA Booklist
(Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 CST 1992)
Starred Review From morning till nightfall, Patricia waits expectantly for birthday greetings and presents, but Dad, Gramma, and brother Richie seem to have forgotten all about her special day. That evening, when Dad announces, Tonight we're going to get the very first photograph ever taken of the Monster at Clay Pit Bottoms, Patricia is still feeling disappointed, but also excited and scared. The spooky campfire, climaxed by the apparent appearance of the monster, will rivet young listeners' attention and the surprise birthday party will be just the twist they've been waiting for. A good storyteller, Polacco creates a first-person narrative that's convincing and entertaining--no mean feat when the narrator's just turned six. The well-composed, full-color illustrations portray a wonderfully homey cast of characters in a diverting series of lively scenes. It's particularly refreshing to see a well-drawn, individualized father larking about, teasing, adventuring, and loving in his own idiosyncratic way. An appealing choice for reading aloud, from its spooky jacket art right down to its happy ending. (Reviewed Jan 1, 1992)
Horn Book
Polacco recalls an episode from her childhood in which her birthday is celebrated with a search for the famed 'Monster at Clay Pit Bottoms.' The ending - the monster is her father - will be a cheerful surprise to young listeners, and Polacco's characteristic illustrations add humor and movement to her story.
Kirkus Reviews
My mom and dad were divorced,'' begins this refreshing variant on a familiar theme. Patricia and her brother stay with Dad and Gramma in the summer; when Dad seems to have forgotten Patricia's birthday, she takes it in stride, going along with him when he decides to stalk
the Monster at Clay Pit Bottoms.'' After a picnic by moonlight, the kids are frightened out of their wits by an apparition, but it's just Dad—he fell into the pond and came out covered with bulrushes. Meanwhile, of course, Gramma has provided a birthday cake. Both the lively narrative and the energetic illustrations capture the thrill and humor of these shenanigans; Polacco's characters' flamboyant gestures, like mime, adroitly convey both their comically exaggerated reactions and their subtler feelings. (Picture book. 4-8)"
School Library Journal
(Tue Feb 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)
PreS-Gr 2-- Polacco recalls a memorable birthday celebration from her young life--a summer nighttime cookout with her father, brother, and cousin Billy at the spooky Clay Pit Bottoms, rumored home of a monster. The scary creature sighted turns out to be her dripping Dad, who has fallen into the water. Patricia's birthday is celebrated properly, at last, with cake and a present, but it's the memory of the Clay Pit adventure that lingers. Polacco's inimitable illustrations perfectly accompany this playful tale. From the surprised faces of the quartet on the cover to her father's gleeful glance over the rubber-monster-topped, whipped-cream cake, she has deftly evoked both story and personality in her familiar pencil, colored marker, and acrylic paintings. A tender look at a loving extended family and a great read-aloud as well.-- Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH