s her little sister Gloria's birthday approaches, Frances wavers between being generous'and being jealous. '[Frances] is every youngster who chafes at being the un-birthday child.

Russell Hoban was the author of A Bargain for Frances, A Baby Sister for Frances, Best Friends for Frances, A Birthday for Frances, and Bread and Jam for Frances, all illustrated by Lillian Hoban. He also wrote Bedtime for Frances, illustrated by Garth Williams.