Amanda Panda and the Bigger, Better Birthday

Book excerpt: In the hilarious follow-up to Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten, strong, sassy, and funny Amanda Panda is having a birthday crisis! Amanda Panda's birthday is tomorrow. She'll be the first kid in her class to turn six! But when she gets to the bus stop, her best friend/worst enemy Bitsy announces that today is HER birthday! And her party is planned for Saturday, the same day as Amanda's! Birthday dreams ruined, Amanda's can't keep her temper in check at school. By recess, it looks like Amanda's birthday plans—and her friendship with Bitsy—is over. But when the girls stop arguing long enough to listen to each other, they come up wtih a birthday plan that is TWICE the fun. Young children will learn about sharing, compromise, and conflict resolution, all the while laughing along with Amanda and Bitsy in this adorable, school-based story from a new favorite character. Reminiscent of the strength and charm of Russell and Lillian Hoban's Frances the Badger, Lilly of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse, and Peggy Rathmann's Ruby the Copycat, veteran children's author Candice Ransom has perfectly captured the spirit, motivations, and voice of a headstrong five-(almost-six)-year-old girl. "A sweet celebration of friendship and the drama of kindergarten."—Kirkus "Text and illustrations work harmoniously to capture the feelings of disappointment when faced with the sticky situation of having a birthday party on the same day as a classmate, and all the worries that come with it. . . . A sweet story on a familiar birthday party conundrum faced by many school-age children and their parents."—School Library Journal