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Billy Has a Birthday
- Billy Growing Up, Book 1
- Narrated by: Lola-Rose Maxwell
- Length: 1 hr and 9 mins
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Billy Has a Birthday
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Summary
Billy Has a Birthday is the first volume in the Billy Growing Up series. The story follows Billy, a young boy who turns 10 on the tenth October - 10, 10, 10 - a once in a lifetime occasion. Billy's excitement at his 'big' birthday perfectly captures that of a child who is bordering on adolescence - each birthday seems so much more important than the last, and the move from single to double figures is one of the greatest of all.
On Billy's birthday, he is over the moon to be given a £20 note by his granddad. No more silly children's toys, he can finally buy what he wants. At the age of 10 this seems like a huge amount of money - more than Billy has ever owned. Things take an unpleasant turn when the local bully hears about Billy's birthday present, and forces him to give it up - or else. Billy, like many other children his age, agrees to the bully's demands.
Billy is devastated to have lost his special birthday present, but he attempts to keep the situation a secret from his mum and granddad. He has nothing to be ashamed of, but has convinced himself that the adults in his life will be cross if they find out what has happened. Like many bullied children he feels he cannot turn to anyone for help. Fortunately, luck is on Billy's side, and his best friend's little sister finds out about the bully and tells Billy's granddad. Together they are able to hatch a plan to get the note back and to ensure the bully gets what's coming to him!
Billy Has a Birthday is a wonderful example of a story that young children can enjoy listening to together with their parents. Using traditional storytelling, it is entertaining while dealing with a serious issue that affect many children as they grow up. Bullying can be a difficult subject for children to talk about, and many feel frightened or embarrassed if they fall victim to bullying. This book acts as the perfect icebreaker for adults and children to begin discussing these issues.
The message in the book is clear - you can't rid the world of bullies but you can do something about how you deal with them.
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What listeners say about Billy Has a Birthday
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Ryan A.
- 25-09-16
Enjoyable book for adults and children
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
yes. We have been reading this before bedtime every night, which my son now looks forward too. He has never been one for reading, but he loves following along to the narration.
What about Lola-Rose Maxwell’s performance did you like?
Was clear and easy to listen to.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It did make my son laugh.
Any additional comments?
Definitely be getting more of the Billy Growing up audible books.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- christopher hogg
- 17-06-16
Great story!
What did you like most about Billy Has a Birthday?
This book was great and much appreciated in our family house! It was very fun.
How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?
I don't think I could.
What does Lola-Rose Maxwell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
The narration was brilliant; I like Lola-Rose Maxwell's voice a lot. She sounds really sweet and yet dependable and was able to make this serious subject with all its difficult layers very accessible to my kids. She's clearly had a lot of acting experience.
Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
We giggled and I also thought it dealt with the subject of bullying in a deep and sensible way.
Any additional comments?
It was thought-provoking and we liked it.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Patricia Walker
- 23-07-16
Good narration of a great story
Where does Billy Has a Birthday rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
as far as children's audio books are concerned Billy Has a Birthday ranks up there among the best. It brings the book to life in a whole new way.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Billy Has a Birthday?
The most memorable moment of the book for me is when the bully is caught by a policeman and arrested thus bringing him to justice for the theft of Billy's money and for his bullying ways.
What does Lola-Rose Maxwell bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
This is well narrated by Lola-Rose Maxwell who brings the wonderful story to life. Each character comes to life as she reads and at the end of the story she explains in a way children can understand what the book is about and how they can deal with bullies.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
I listened to the story in one sitting although it can be listened to chapter by chapter. Ms Maxwell has a voice that is pleasant to listen to and she narrates the story clearly.
Any additional comments?
The book itself is well written and beautifully illustrated and this audio addition is a great compliment to it.
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