Esme always has a plan. A funny and sweet early illustrated chapter book about a problem-solving girl who has to manage her own birthday bash. For fans of Dory Fantasmagory.
Esme lives with her grandparents on the uppermost floor of the topmost best building. It's her birthday. Mimi and Pipo gave her a beautiful guitar. But they didn't plan a birthday party.
Esme thinks this is the way with grandparents. They don't know about parties or piñatas or birthday cake. No problem! Esme is great at problem solving.
With the help of her cat, El Toro, and a LOT of help from her neighbors in the topmost best building, the irrepressible Esme gets the birthday party of her dreams.
NOMINEE
| 2024 Oregon Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award
HONOR
| 2023 Golden Kite Awards
One of Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids 2022 One of Chicago Public Library's Best Fiction Books for Young Readers 2022 One of Betsy Bird's Best 2022 Early Chapter Book picks
"[H]umorous and heartwarming . . . Readers will look forward to more adventures with Esme in this welcome addition to early chapter book collections." —School Library Journal
"[T]he playful text features zippy dialogue, bullet-pointed lists, and plenty of pleasing repetition for beginning readers . . . Like the best bashes, this early-reader series debut is amusing and inviting." —Booklist
"This book sticks into your head and you keep wanting more.” —The BabySpot
LOURDES HEUER is a children's book author and poet. She was born in Spain to Cuban immigrant parents, then moved to the United States in 1984. She holds an M.F.A. in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an Associate Professor of English at Broward College. She is the author of On This Airplane and Esme's Birthday Conga Line. Lourdes lives in South Florida with her husband, son and three dogs.
View titles by Lourdes Heuer
Originally from South Texas, MARISSA VALDEZ is a two times #1 New York Times bestselling children's book illustrator and author. She's a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she received a B.F.A. in Animation. She loves to illustrate stories that are overflowing with humor, wit and totally out-there situations. In her spare time, Marissa gets her illustration inspiration by wandering around natural science museums, watching super-cool dinosaur documentaries and playing with her two fat cats in Birmingham, UK.
View titles by Marissa Valdez
Esme always has a plan. A funny and sweet early illustrated chapter book about a problem-solving girl who has to manage her own birthday bash. For fans of Dory Fantasmagory.
Esme lives with her grandparents on the uppermost floor of the topmost best building. It's her birthday. Mimi and Pipo gave her a beautiful guitar. But they didn't plan a birthday party.
Esme thinks this is the way with grandparents. They don't know about parties or piñatas or birthday cake. No problem! Esme is great at problem solving.
With the help of her cat, El Toro, and a LOT of help from her neighbors in the topmost best building, the irrepressible Esme gets the birthday party of her dreams.
Awards
NOMINEE
| 2024 Oregon Beverly Cleary Children's Choice Award
HONOR
| 2023 Golden Kite Awards
Reviews
One of Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids 2022 One of Chicago Public Library's Best Fiction Books for Young Readers 2022 One of Betsy Bird's Best 2022 Early Chapter Book picks
"[H]umorous and heartwarming . . . Readers will look forward to more adventures with Esme in this welcome addition to early chapter book collections." —School Library Journal
"[T]he playful text features zippy dialogue, bullet-pointed lists, and plenty of pleasing repetition for beginning readers . . . Like the best bashes, this early-reader series debut is amusing and inviting." —Booklist
"This book sticks into your head and you keep wanting more.” —The BabySpot
Author
LOURDES HEUER is a children's book author and poet. She was born in Spain to Cuban immigrant parents, then moved to the United States in 1984. She holds an M.F.A. in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts and is an Associate Professor of English at Broward College. She is the author of On This Airplane and Esme's Birthday Conga Line. Lourdes lives in South Florida with her husband, son and three dogs.
View titles by Lourdes Heuer
Originally from South Texas, MARISSA VALDEZ is a two times #1 New York Times bestselling children's book illustrator and author. She's a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she received a B.F.A. in Animation. She loves to illustrate stories that are overflowing with humor, wit and totally out-there situations. In her spare time, Marissa gets her illustration inspiration by wandering around natural science museums, watching super-cool dinosaur documentaries and playing with her two fat cats in Birmingham, UK.
View titles by Marissa Valdez
