THE ALMOST TERRIBLE PLAYDATE

The Almost Terrible Playdate is an adorable little book about two children that can’t seem to get a long, which is very much how my boys can be some days. They are the best of friends, but let’s face it.  They are two different people and obviously they want to play different things.  Luckily in the end, it all works out and they compromise which is what happens in this adorable book.  

The Almost Terrible Playdate is ideal for all families who have ever heard (or said!) the words “Why can’t you both JUST GET ALONG?”  We have one of those families and I’m pretty certain that anyone that has multiple children have had to deal with it.  The Almost Terrible Playdate is a story of two young children with VERY different ideas of what they want to play.  What starts with an innocent question (“What do you want to play?”) soon veers hilariously toward chaos, as two children engage in the age-old struggle of princesses, ponies, and ballet vs. dinosaurs, dragons, and race cars.  Which child will win? Or will both find a way to play nicely together?

In a humorous mock–epic battle staged with crayon illustrations of each child’s increasingly steadfast and elaborate ideas of what they want to play, Richard Torrey taps into the charged and volatile emotions of childhood, which every parent and child will recognize with a smile. It’s a lighthearted and funny way to reflect on the ideas of sharing, cooperation, patience, and generosity.

About the Author/Illustrator:

Richard Torrey grew up in a family of boys-with two brothers, two half brothers, and two stepbrothers-where entire weekends could be occupied by a couple of cardboard boxes, a few crayons, and a lot of imagination.  As a brother, and later as a father of two, he learned that compromise is a big part of successful play, as the two children in this book soon find out.

Our Thoughts:
My five-year old loved this book! We had to read it three times in a row before putting it down. The simplicity of the illustrations completely pulled him in. He had to check out every little detail over and over again.  Of course he didn’t notice at all that he and his brother argue like this all the time.

This is a book that we highly recommend and can be purchased for $16.99 SRP.