The Birthday Surprise

Big Sister Coco is sassy and smart, and she absolutely adores her little brother, Bo! Together, Coco and Bo are ready to have fun and solve any problem or mystery that comes their way! In The Birthday Surprise, three interconnecting stories, told as an easy graphic novel, introduce emerging readers to this dynamic duo while highlighting their first mystery: How will Coco help Bo figure out, prepare for, and enjoy his big fifth-birthday surprise? "In this comics-style early reader containing three stories, the fun begins with Bo's birthday, which is happening in just three days! He is eager to open his present ahead of time and determined to find its secret hidden spot, and his older sister, Coco, signs up for the gift-hunting quest. One clue leads to the next, and they eventually find his present inside his toy box: tickets to the water park! In the next story, Bo's birthday is here, and the siblings help each other decide what topack for their big day, and in the final story, Coco and Bo are ecstatic to explore the water park. With all sorts of splashy options, they opt for "the really REALLY big one." Bo finds it scary at first, but his loving big sister compassionately helps guide him away from his fear. Conveyed primarily in speech balloons with simple text, this warmly illustrated story about a pair of caring siblings is a great introduction for emerging readers, particularly those who are interested in comics." -- Vivian Alvarez