Linda Ashman
Children's Book Author

JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD Selection


"A bumbling magician named Maxwell wreaks havoc when he steps in at the last minute to entertain at Louise's birthday party. The disaster unfolds in a series of witty, staccato quatrains. Illustrator Dunnick matches the pace with boisterous cartoons all bustle and panic. Frothy fun." Publishers Weekly

"Magic run amok plagues Louise's seventh birthday party as a substitute magician turns the birthday girl into a rock. Each subsequent word or gesture creates a catastrophic transformation of someone else. Ashman's quatrains include the exclamations of the guests and superbly accelerate the action. Dunnick reveals Maxwell's disastrous magic with watercolor-and-pen cartoon drawings that highlight the fast-moving action and the humor of the performer's mistakes. A funny read-aloud for any collection." School Library Journal

"Page turns are used to great effect, adding suspense and ratcheting up the hilarity. The fast-paced rhyming text deserves to be read aloud and is well matched by Dunnick's mixed media illustrations. Steig's Sylvester and the Magic Pebble may be more poignant a tale, but the birthday rock, with her polka-dot party hat, brings her own quiet dignity to this riotous adventure." Horn Book Magazine

"The humorous tale, told in rhyming verse, will entertain its readers. Its pace and fantastical plot hold the reader's interest while the exaggerated illustrations add to the general mayhem Maxwell creates." Children's Literature

"The playful, rhyming text and cartoon-style illustrations capture the farce of a party out of control. Any kid who's ever wondered, "What if?" at a magic show will enjoy the fun." Booklist

"Use this for a birthday-party readaloud or for a silly celebration any day." The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books