Never, Ever, Ever Ask a Pirate to a Party - by Clare Helen Welsh (Hardcover)

About the Book

"If you want the perfect party, never, ever, ever invite this crowd of chaotic guests! The unicorn will demand sparkles and bubbles, the dragon will set fire to your decorations and the fizzy drinks will send the aliens wild! But... never, ever, EVER send your guests home! Because a party's only a party if you share it with your friends! Featuring hilarious, colourful scenes with plenty to spot, as well as a simple message about sharing good times with friends, little ones will want to go right back to the beginning and read the book again (and again)!"--

Book Synopsis

Get ready for a fantastical birthday party adventure featuring a dinosaur, dragon, unicorn, pirate . . . and a spaceship full of aliens!

If you want the perfect party, never, ever, ever invite this crowd of chaotic guests! The unicorn will demand sparkles and bubbles, the dragon will set fire to your decorations, and the fizzy drinks will send the aliens wild! But . . . never, ever, EVER send your guests home! Because a party's only a party if you share it with your friends! Featuring hilarious, colorful scenes with plenty to spot, as well as a simple message about sharing good times with friends, little ones will want to go right back to the beginning and read the book again (and again)!

Every Nosy Crow picture book comes with a free "Stories Aloud" audio recording. Just scan the QR code and listen along!

Review Quotes

Never, Ever, Ever Ask a Pirate to a Party.
By Clare Helen Welsh. Illus. by Anne-Kathrin Behl
Aug. 2024. 32p. Nosy Crow, $17.99 (9798887770758). PreS-Gr. 1

A young redheaded child with large, round spectacles has planned the perfect party, with a strawberry-decorated cake, beverages, and festive decorations. When someone knocks at the door, a pirate and her parrot, Polly, enter, and the pandemonium begins. While the bird is helping herself to all the gifts, the purple-clad pirate with requisite eye patch uses her sword to slash a piñata, thus creating the first mess. After a fire-breathing dragon, a pink unicorn, and a few more creatures crash the party, things get quite out of hand. The dragon is a literal party pooper, as he's not house trained, leading the unicorn to demand a bath. During the mayhem, the child laments, "This is not the perfect party!" and asks that everyone leave, until a surprise knock at the door brings about a welcome change for the child and the celebration resumes in a more sedate manner. This enjoyable read-aloud is filled with bright, cheerful illustrations full of movement, onomatopoeia, and the many antics of energetic party guests.
- Maryann Owen

--Maryann Owen, Booklist

Looking to plan a shindig?
The pale-skinned, bespectacled, auburn-haired young narrator has some advice on who not to invite. The child, who's hosting a party, demonstrates the riotous disasters that ensue when some unusual invitees show up. The titular pirate, brown-skinned and green-haired, brings along her parrot (who steals the gifts). Next, a dragon arrives. "Never, ever, ever ask a dragon to a party," advises the narrator. "She'll frighten the pirate and get caught in the streamers." Plus, the dragon isn't house trained. Soon, a unicorn arrives, turns up his nose at the steaming mess left by the dragon, and demands a bath. Then a group of aliens fly in and wolf down all the food. The narrator is forced to send the out-of-control guests packing. But without guests, there's no one to play or share cake with, there aren't presents-and it's VERY quiet. Our guide offers some new advice: Open the door and re-invite the guests, who promise to behave this time. At last, a perfect party-until a very large, perhaps uninvited, attendee arrives. Now what? This rollicking U.K. import will have kids giggling and probably hoping for a few of these guests to show up at their own parties. There's a hint of Laura Numeroff's If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (1985), illustrated by Felicia Bond, here as well. The colorful illustrations are dynamic, celebratory fun.
Don't pass on the chance to read this one to kids-say, at an upcoming party.

--Kirkus

"This enjoyable read-aloud is filled with bright, cheerful illustrations full of movement, onomatopoeia, and the many antics of energetic party guests."--Maryann Owen, Booklist

The colorful illustrations are dynamic, celebratory fun. Don't pass on the chance to read this one to kids--say, at an upcoming party.

--Clare Helen Welsh, Kirkus

About the Author

Clare Helen Welsh (Author)
Clare Helen Welsh is a picture book writer who loves dreaming up stories for young readers and their families to enjoy. For many years she was an elementary school teacher, which ignited her love of storytelling, reading, and role-play. When she isn't imagining new worlds and creating characters, she enjoys walking on the beach and in the countryside and takes lots of inspiration from the natural world. Clare lives with her husband, two children, and her dog, Hope, in Devon, England.

Anne-Kathrin Behl (Illustrator)
Anne-Kathrin Behl, born in 1983, has illustrated and written many children's books since 2009. With her mother having a bookstore, she has always loved children's books and, as soon as she could draw and write, Anne made her own little books and wished to become a professional children's book illustrator. She studied Illustration at the HAW in Hamburg and later moved to Celle, a little town in northern Germany, where she now lives with her husband and her two sons.