School Library Journal (Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2013)

Gr 1-3 Dana is downright mean. Because she gets to do whatever she wants on her birthday, she pinches, takes her friend Anthony's dessert without asking, and name-calls. Dana is an ornery bully until Anthony gives her a white elephant with pink toenails as a gift. It needs endless love and attention, and Dana quickly learns to care about something other than herself. When another birthday girl needs to learn a lesson about how to act on her big day, Dana knows just what to give her. Schneider's watercolor, ink, and pencil illustrations have humor and sweetness: the cover art is hilarious and there is a lovely moment when Dana is depicted lying on a hill, exhausted, and the elephant's trunk is reaching around to take her sandwich. The small details in the artwork add to the character development; the ever-present Band-Aid on Dana's knee along with the horses and unicorns that decorate her room give readers insight into her personality. However, there are also oddities in the artwork: the vacant look in the children's circular eyes can be disconcerting. While this charming early chapter book is more a story about a girl and her pet than it is about birthday shenanigans, young readers are sure to enjoy it. Laura Lutz, Pratt Institute, New York City

Horn Book (Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2013)

Dana, a show-off and a bully, receives a white elephant for her birthday--literally and figuratively. At first she's thrilled, but as she struggles to take care of her pet she falls victim to a bully and begins feeling empathy for others. The illustrations ably support the short text, but overall the message in this chapter book for newly independent readers is rather confusing.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Little Dana needs big lessons in kindness more than any birthday present--unless a present can teach her something, that is. She starts her special day wearing her favorite dress and eating her favorite breakfast, and then, because it's her birthday "and she could do whatever she liked," she teases a boy named Anthony. She calls him "ickaborse" and pinches him, and she eats his dessert after her own at school. She later receives many gifts at her party, but none compares with the present Anthony brings after her guests depart: "a big white elephant." Dana is overwhelmed by the gift's specialness and is determined to prove her worthiness of the creature, since, as she tells other children, "Not everyone deserves an elephant." Her dogged efforts result in exhaustion, and with it, Dana becomes a target for another mean girl's teasing. When audible hunger pangs plague her after she gives up her breakfast to the voracious elephant, for example, "Gertrude called her Grumble-Guts on the bus." The chagrined Dana talks with Anthony, who generously reminds her about Gertrude's coming birthday party, and it seems she's found another birthday girl who deserves an elephant. Throughout, Schneider's multimedia illustrations employ the same humorous, expressive line seen in his Geisel Award–winning Tales for Very Picky Eaters (2011), delivering a remarkable package. A gift of a book for new readers. (Early reader. 6-9)

Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Little Dana needs big lessons in kindness more than any birthday present--unless a present can teach her something, that is. She starts her special day wearing her favorite dress and eating her favorite breakfast, and then, because it's her birthday "and she could do whatever she liked," she teases a boy named Anthony. She calls him "ickaborse" and pinches him, and she eats his dessert after her own at school. She later receives many gifts at her party, but none compares with the present Anthony brings after her guests depart: "a big white elephant." Dana is overwhelmed by the gift's specialness and is determined to prove her worthiness of the creature, since, as she tells other children, "Not everyone deserves an elephant." Her dogged efforts result in exhaustion, and with it, Dana becomes a target for another mean girl's teasing. When audible hunger pangs plague her after she gives up her breakfast to the voracious elephant, for example, "Gertrude called her Grumble-Guts on the bus." The chagrined Dana talks with Anthony, who generously reminds her about Gertrude's coming birthday party, and it seems she's found another birthday girl who deserves an elephant. Throughout, Schneider's multimedia illustrations employ the same humorous, expressive line seen in his Geisel Award–winning Tales for Very Picky Eaters (2011), delivering a remarkable package. A gift of a book for new readers. (Early reader. 6-9)

ALA Booklist (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Dana's birthday has gone to her head. Because it's her Special Day, Dana "could do whatever she liked," which includes calling Anthony a name ("Ickaborse"), pinching him, and then eating his dessert at lunch. But Dana gets her comeuppance when Anthony gives her a birthday gift: an elephant, whose toenails are painted pink d pink is Dana's favorite color. The elephant is a novelty at first, but soon it's taking over Dana's life by eating her food, sleeping in her bed, and riding her bicycle. Luckily, after apologizing to Anthony, he reminds her that it's Gertrude's birthday. Wonder what she's getting as a gift from Dana? In five short, humorous stories, with whimsical watercolor illustrations, this beginning chapter book by a Geisel Award winner should appeal to every new reader's sense of fun, especially if they've ever had a diva moment. And, really, who hasn't?