School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-When Hazel Hen discovers that the next day is Friday the 13th, she decides to throw a party for good luck. Trouble is, she's new in town and doesn't know anyone. She writes out invitations anyway, puts them in a basket, and sets out to find some friends. She makes several pals and becomes a hero by helping a policedog capture a nasty rat robber. When her new friends begin to arrive for the party later that night, Hazel is perplexed because she thinks it is only Thursday the 12th (turns out she forgot to cross a day off her calendar). Day's cheery watercolors depict a variety of animals. However, as the guests are leaving Hazel's house shortly after mignight, the sky looks blue enough to be midday. It's a small flaw that won't prevent young readers from enjoying the four episodes recounted in this beginning reader.-Sharron McElmeel, Cedar Rapids Community Schools, IA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
When Hazel Hen finishes unpacking her old things and putting them in order in her new home, she realizes that the next day is Friday the thirteenth. To avoid bad luck, she prepares dinner and invites her new neighbors to join her. In a sequence of humorous events, depicted in numerous color illustrations, she not only makes new friends but unwittingly becomes a hero. From HORN BOOK 1994, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Gr. 2. Hazel Hen is new in town. She decides to invite people over for a Friday-the-thirteenth party, so that even if she has bad luck, she will have good friends. This simple chapter book in the Easy-to-Read series, with bright, cheerful watercolor illustrations on almost every page, shows the way bad luck turns to good and the newcomer becomes part of things. On her excursion into town, Hazel learns to dance the Funky Chicken in the park, and she catches an evil Rip Rat in the clothing store. Beginning readers will enjoy the humor in the episodes of gentle farce and adventure. (Reviewed Apr. 1, 1994)0803714882Hazel Rochman
