Review - Hurry Home, Harriet

Hurry Home, Harriet
by Lucy Barnard
Date: 2020
Publisher: QEB Publishing
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 24
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

Oh no, no one has remembered Harriet's birthday!

On a trip to town, Harriet gets upset when no one wishes her a happy birthday. She hurries home to celebrate by herself, bumping into friends all too busy to talk to her. When she gets home, she is shocked to see all of her friends there in a surprise birthday party!

A touching story about friendship and kindness that would make a lovely birthday gift.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is basically a story about an entitled bunny who gets upset when it appears nobody remembers her birthday.

Of course, anyone over the age of six will likely realize that her friends are planning a surprise party. I do like the way Harriet, in spite of her disappointment, still attempts to be a kind friend. And the pictures are fairly cute, if a bit simple.

I'm not a fan of the discussion section at the back. Rather than reinforcing the idea that everyone's entitled to a birthday party (and pitting kids against each other to see who can plan the best one), a more interesting discussion might be about how not everyone around the world even celebrates their birthday, and the reasons for that.

This is just an okay picture book for me. Harriet's attitude kind of bothered me, but kids who live for birthday parties will probably be able to relate to her "problem".

Thank you to NetGalley and QEB Publishing for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.5 out of 5