Birthday Surprises: Ten Great Stories to Unwrap

I used it for my 5th graders. They loved the stories.

Well written short stories that teach real life lessons.

In "Birthday Surprises," ten children's fiction authors each tell a story of a birthday celebration, complete with gifts. What happens when the celebrant receives an empty box as a present? What can an empty gift box represent? In these charming and imaginative tales, the box might be a: *Comeuppance for a snooty schoolgirl. *Gift of sky, memories, and love. *Loving representation of the recipient herself. *Melted gift. *Wonderful technological innovation. *Reminder that things are rarely the worst they can get. *The one magical gift a little girl has always wanted. *Symbol of faith in one who seems hopeless. *Lesson about friendship. *Hilarious shipping error.These ten stories, penned by such amazing authors as Ann M. Martin, Richard Peck, and David A. Adler, among others, illustrate each author's unique interpretation of the same theme. The stories are intriguing and engaging, and they evoke a range of emotions that may include both tears and hearty laughs. This fantastic collection provides some excellent life lessons for the young reader about what is truly valuable, and what is not.

I fell in love with this book when it was named to the Texas Bluebonnet Awards List in 1996-97. Since then my students have LOVED reading the stories...each of them unique...each with a special message! What a treasure! It is the perfect motivator for inspiring students to write!

My nine-year-old loved this book.