Hit of the Party: The Complete Planner for Children's Theme Birthday Parties by Amy Vangsgard
Amy Vangsgard's party plans follow common themes: cowboy, pirate, dinosaur , circus, space, etc. However, these are party plans for by younger children, and Vangsgard exhibits much depth of planning and creative detail. She has ideas for making your own stickers and face paint, building game structures and piñatas, and fashioning cakes in original patterns.
For those parents who haven't the time or motivation for do-it-yourself projects, Vangsgard offers plenty of suggestions for adding a personal touch to commercially available prizes, cakes, and other items. The general planning and scheduling guidelines are excellent as is the advice for gearing the party to the child's age.
This book is still one of the best resources on party giving that you will find. Hit of the Party is a well-organized and comprehensive party planner for children ages 1-10. The outline format is particularly interesting. Headings are clear and let you skim through to find the sections you want. The introduction is well thought out and includes extremely helpful tips. Individual chapters include complete plans for 12 theme parties ranging from pirates to fairy tales, safaris to space.
The four appendices in the back compile recipes, cake tips, crafts and games. Vangsgard also gets high marks for including photocopy-able lists and artwork, age ranges for activities and crafts and preparation times.
