The Two O'Clock Secret

The Two O'Clock Secret is a 1992 book by children's author Bethany Roberts, with illustrations by Robin Kramer. The book, about a boy's attempt to guard the secret behind his father's birthday, received mixed to positive reviews.

The Two O'Clock Secret
AuthorBethany Roberts
IllustratorRobin Kramer
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreChildren's fiction
PublishedSeptember 1992[1][lower-alpha 1]
PublisherAlbert Whitman & Company[3]
Pages32[4] (unpaged)[3]
ISBN0-8075-8159-3

Synopsis

A boy named Michael tries to guard the secret behind his father's birthday and presents as he prepares for the occasion with his sister and mother.[3]

Reception

Reviews for The Two O'Clock Secret were mixed to positive. Writing for the School Library Journal in March 1993, Nancy Seiner criticized the "careless drawing" along with the sibling characters' inconsistent ages and designs. "Children will identify with Michael's [titular] struggle," she said, "but they may be confused by the art."[3] Conversely, Kirkus Reviews and Deborah Abbott of Booklist were both favorable, citing Kramer's watercolor illustrations as "cheery".[2][4] "In a simple, realistic text," wrote Kirkus, "Roberts does a fine job of building both the anticipation and the concept of keeping a secret, ably abetted by Kramer's [contributions]".[4] Abbott noted the "pleasant twist" and "appealing cover", adding that the book's message about keeping secrets "will not be lost on the read-aloud crowd."[2]

Notes
  1. Booklist gives a February 1993 date.[2]

References
  1. Albert Whitman & Company (November 1992). "Albert Whitman & Company's Fall Harvest of Books 1992 (Advertisement)". The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 46 (3): End Matter. ISSN 0008-9036. Retrieved July 8, 2023 – via HathiTrust.
  2. Abbott, Deborah (January 15, 1993). "Books for the Young: 'The Two O'Clock Secret'". Booklist. Vol. 89, no. 10. p. 923. ISSN 0006-7385. ProQuest 235350598.
  3. Seiner, Nancy (March 1993). "Review: 'The Two O'Clock Secret'". School Library Journal. Vol. 39, no. 3. p. 186. ISSN 0362-8930. Retrieved July 8, 2023 – via EBSCOhost.
  4. "Review: 'The Two O'Clock Secret'". Kirkus Reviews. No. 1. January 1, 1993. ISSN 1948-7428. ProQuest 917188810. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
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