Horn Book Review
It's Bigfoot's birthday, and the people of Mossy Pockets plan to celebrate with a marching band, knowing full well that the guest of honor hates birthday parties. The pages are, like a good party, crowded, but the happy ending--courtesy of a fly--is winning, and readers will enjoy spotting the party pooper hiding on the periphery of several illustrations. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A town prepares for Bigfoot's birthdaywhether Bigfoot wants a party or not. The town of Mossy Pockets is abuzz with excitement. Today is Bigfoot's birthday! But alas, he will not be at the party because (as readers are told in no uncertain terms, with the words sprawled boldly across the page) Bigfoot does not like birthday parties. It's no matter. The town gathers anyway. The mayor, in his dapper plaid suit, the marching band, the baker with tray piled high with pies, and all the rest: "the cowboy in his boots and vest, / the lady with the purple hat, / the circus clown, the acrobat." They all parade to the mountains to celebrate. Bigfoot, who in theory should be far away since he dislikes parties so much, has bright blue fur and is seen hiding (ineffectively) on almost every pagepeering around corners, concealed in trees, etc. His proximity muddles the suspense a bit, but a comical, cumulative chain of events resulting in a pie-flying catastrophe will make readers (and Bigfoot) smile. Temairik's flat illustrative style, with pops of color, is full of visual witnot to mention particularly diverse townsfolk. An energetic read-aloud with plenty of repetition and zest. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
