Fortunately by Remy Charlip

There is a simple pattern here of fortunately followed by unfortunately. Young readers will quickly anticipate each page turn but the actual outcome of each incident is sure to be a surprise and yes the ending - spoiler alert - is also a surprise - it is in fact a surprise party with a setting you could never have anticipated.  

Fortunately, Ned was invited to a surprise party.
Unfortunately, the party was a thousand miles away.
Fortunately, a friend loaned Ned an airplane.
Unfortunately, the motor exploded.
Fortunately, there was a parachute in the airplane.
Unfortunately, there was a hole in the parachute.

This pattern is not new. Here are a couple of other books that follow this format:

Here are some other books that end with a birthday party:

Fortunately was published over sixty years ago in 1964 but oddly I had not heard of it until recently when someone on Instagram made this puzzling statement. (Note most of the content from this US Teacher or Teacher-Librarian is behind a paywall). 

This book is a masterclass in mercenary page turns

If you are reading this blog and you can explain this idea or this terminology - mercenary page turn - I would love to hear your ideas. I did comment on her post and ask for an explanation but I didn't get an answer. Kirkus say: This book is more of a word game for group use than a story.

I did find this book listed as still available here in Australia also here. 

You can see Betsy Bird reading Fortunately here. 

Remy Charlip was an American illustrator. He died in 2012 and wrote or illustrated over 40 books.