Pistes d'exploration

Discuss parties: Do they need to be planned? How do you plan them? What kind of parties does your family have?

Write an invitation for your dream party.

Plan a birthday party according to your cultural background. Be sure to mention what you will eat!

Talk about how you choose who you invite to your birthday party.

What could you add to this party from your own traditions?

Plan a birthday party according to your cultural background. Add drawings or pictures. 

Talk about the different foods in the book and find their origins.

Mama, I'll Give You the World, The Party, Tea Rex

Mots-clés

Picture book , birthdays , celebrations , community , diversity , food , multiculturalism , parties

Commentaire descriptif

This festive book relates a young boy’s dreams about his upcoming birthday party. He imagines his invitation: “Bring along whoever you want and whatever you like to eat.” The language skillfully builds up a dream guest list: “And if Fatima, who is Antonieta’s best friend, decides to bring her brother Djamel, maybe they’ll have to drag along their dog.” Every guest brings food that is part of their culture: “couscous, crepes, salad, stuffed snapper. . .” There’s even a whole lamb, slow-roasting on a spit: “there’s time, because even though James and his rap group are always late, they will eventually show up for sure . . . .” Children may be encouraged to identify the cultural background of the various guests and their food. The illustrations are painted in deep, rich colours, with soft edges and simple forms. Dishes from around the world are carefully depicted: pickled lemons in the tajine, black olives for the pizza. The last spreads show a backyard bash that lasts until dawn, full of laughter, music and dancing. The young narrator’s ironic tone won’t be lost on young readers: “If you don’t watch out, your birthday party could turn out to be the wildest, funnest party ever.”