Birthdays Books

The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.

The Curious Polka-Dot Present is a charming picturebook about a young girl who receives a mysterious present - large, oddly shaped, covered in polka-dot wrapping. She wonders what could possibly be inside, until she opens it and discovered it's a birthday present from her grandmother - a big soft doll hand-made to look just like her! Illustrated with warm color illustrations featuring soft purple, blue, pink and yellow highlights, The Curious Polka-Dot Present is a simple yet fun read-aloud story for parents to share with children.

Every child dreams of that 'surprise present' for their birthday or special day. This book is about a little girl who receives a surprise present in the mail. The verses are lovely, and pique curiosity right to the end. The ending is wonderfully warm. The illustrations are beautiful and text leads the eye from one page to the next.

I highly recommend Cheri L. Hallwood's book, The Curious Polka-Dot Present to anyone with small children. Grandmothers would especially appreciate this for sharing with their young grandchildren.

I was really happy to find such a great book :) It is so hard to find what you have in mind for your childs party. This book help me find what I was looking for and so many more ideas I could have Not thought of myself!!! This was a wonderful book that saved me alot of time. I usually spend hours calling around trying to find out information about a clown or character. I just turned the page to what I wanted and there was a list of names & numbers of who to call!!! It doesn't get any better than this!!!!!!! If you have a child any age you NEED this GREAT BOOK!!!!!!

Not only is this book packed full of information about birthday parties, it is a great reference for kids' activites in general, throughout the Delaware Valley. You will be amazed at all the things there are to do with kids in our area that many of us don't know about. Having them listed all together, in one "user friendly" format is wonderful for busy parents on the go, who don't have the time to research all this information for themselves. Whether it's a cool birthday party you are trying to plan, or a weekend activity for the kids, this book will give you what you need and more.

I was at a loss again for ideas on where to have my youngest son Andrew's birthday party. Using this book I found many great ideas and I didn't have to spend a fortune on the party. I recommend it highly to any parent who wants their child's birthday to be memorable.

I love these books they make reading and learning Spanish fun. My little one likes all the bright colors and the illustrations.

I loved this book! It took me through the Spanish alphabet connecting each letter to a Spanish word in a sentence dominated by English words. In the very front of the book is a glossary of Spanish words used in the book.

Although the book helps the reader learn a little Spanish as well as English, it has a little story behind it. The setting is a kid's birthday party and what happens at such an event. The text is very good and the illustrations were a joy to look at.

I would have liked the book better if the "birthday kid" had been introduced at the beginning and we had learned a few things about him (or her) by reading the book. We never do get to put a name on the birthday kid in this book. 5 stars!

I teach in a preschool classroom made up of 50% English speakers and 50% Spanish speakers. I love using this book in my classroom because it ties in the Spanish culture and both the English and Spanish language. My English speakers feel special because they are learning to say some Spanish words, and my Spanish speaking children feel comfortable hearing words that are familiar to them. All the while we are having an open dialouge about the letters of the alphabet!

My daughter read each book with so much excitement that she could not wait to read what happened next. This is a wonderful writer that can keep a child so fascinated with her story telling. We cannot wait to read more stories from this author. So far, we have read all 10 books in this series. Again, great books!

My daughter discovered the Fairy Realm series at our local library. She immediately was captivated and insisted that I find all the other books and check them out so she could read them. Within a week she had read all ten books in the series. She loves them. I read one in the series and they are well written, the illustrations are wonderful and the stories immediately draw you in. These books are well worth the time to read and would make a good addition to any children's library.

In the eyes of my 7 year old, all 5 Fairy Realm books are awesome. We checked the first one out at the library. She read it and loved it. When she realized it was a series, we jumped at the chance to purchase the rest in order. She has read each one up to #5 and loved them all. She related to the character, loved the adventures and cannot wait to dive into #6. My daughter's an avid reader and loves adventure series. Emily Rodda does a great job writing and tells an intriguing story. It pleased me that though the books are very lively, they aren't too scary for younger readers.

The Enneagram Made Easy: Discover the 9 Types of People by Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele is my favorite enneagram book i am a very visually-oriented person & the generous salting of witty pictures throughout along with to-the-point profiles & helpful hints for each type is just excellent. Wagele has gone solo on several more books - all that i have read are worth your time (i haven't read the beethoven piano sonatas one).

"Finding the Birthday Cake" by Wagele could be subtitled "The Enneagram Made Even Easier - for Children". it tells a story that demonstrates the concerns & contributions of each enneagram type with colorful illustrations.

i should resent it since it only gives my type - 7 - two pages in the main story, turns us into a herd - all the rest are individuals - & makes us sound like frivolous folk indeed - but i don't.

warning: because elizabeth's books are all square (or so it seems) i assumed this would have the same heft as the others - it doesn't at 48 pages, as is reasonable - now that i think of it - in a children's book.

As a huge enneagram fan, I find myself explaining the nine types and sharing my copy of Renee Baron & Elizabeth Wagele's brilliant "The Enneagram Made Easy" often -- so I was thrilled to find this little nugget that distills the enneagram to simplest form and presents it in a format that makes sense for adults and children alike.

The nine types are perfectly cast animal characters en route to a birthday party --
Walter One is a rule-following canary who wants to have a perfect party -- but he's lost the birthday cake. Tina Two is a cocker spaniel (perfect!) who wants to be helpful and find the cake, cheer others up, and have a friendly party. Timmy Three, a toad, wants a successful party. Franny Four, a pink-maned pony, wants a special party. Freddy Five, a rabbit, wants an interesting party. Stevie Six, a cautious scaredy cat, wants a safe party. Seven cows want a fun party. Amy Eight, "the most confident fish you've ever met" wants an exuberant party. Ninosaur the dinosaur wants a mellow party.

Whether or not you're familiar with the enneagram, you'll be able to recognize each of the types quickly. (While reading this, I couldn't help but typecast my child & her pre-K classmates -- the bossy eight, the teacher-pleaser two, the rule-following one . . . )

The short story highlights the different gifts / traits of each of the nine types and provides some insight on how to motivate/encourage children of each type. Checklists in the back list behavioral traits of each of the nine types to help teachers and parents determine a particular child's type. I think the book is better directed at adults working with children than at children. The book is subtitled "Helping Children Raise Their Self-Esteem" -- although the text describes the contributions and gifts of each of the nine types, it does not depict all nine types in a universally flattering way. I thought Amy Eight and Franny Four were spot on, but if I were a kid, I wouldn't want to be either one based on the description and illustrations in the book. Despite the simplistic presentation, the book is probably best used by adults, to ensure no hard feelings.

This is a just-scratching-the-surface introduction. It might be a good springboard for someone who knows nothing about the enneagram to learn basics of the types, or for an adult familiar with the enneagram to understand the types as manifested in children. I highly recommend all of the Barron-Wagele enneagram books for further reading. They're all brilliantly illustrated with on-point cartoons.

Liz Wagele has done it again! Her adaptation of the Enneagram for young children is a great way to introduce this ancient and universal wisdom to your children, grandchildren, and to your classroom students. She has woven the characteristics of the nine Enneagram (Greek for NINE and DRAWING) types into a charming, cleverly illustrated story of nine different animals preparing for a birthday party. While helping the serious and "perfect" Walter One search for the lost birthday cake, they demonstrate their particular types.

The defining characteristics of the types are highlighted by each animal's hopes for the birthday party. Walter ONE hoped for the most PERFECT; Tina TWO for the FRIENDLIEST; Timmy THREE for the most SUCCESSFUL; Franny FOUR for the most SPECIAL; Freddy FIVE for the most INTERESTING; Stevie SIX for the SAFEST; SEVENs for the most FUN; EIGHTs for the most EXUBERANT; and NINEs for the most MELLOW party.

The search for the birthday cake is fun and engaging while it introduces children to the NINE TYPES OF KIDS, each with special gifts. When kids compare themselves to others, which they inevitably do, they now have this template of different types to help them understand why we don't all have the same needs or reactions. They can begin to understand why some of us are naturally fearful, others bold; some of us are studious while others are adventurous; and why some of us are easily angered and others very mellow.

In addition to the charming story and its lessons for children, this book includes a section with tips for parents and teachers about using the Enneagram, and simple checklists for each of the types to help parents and kids figure themselves out. This book, a major contribution to the field, gives parents and teachers an engaging tool to use with children from preschool through elementary grades. Parents and teachers can better understand their children, while children learn to identify and appreciate the nine different types of people. I'm sending a copy of Finding the Birthday Cake to all the children in our extended family and encouraging their parents to get Liz Wagele's other Enneagram books for additional information and support.

It's an excellent book, it proves that there is great love amongst grandkids and grandparents. Something not everyone has.

The first half of this book has some humorous interactions between Diego and his sister which draw in and entertain children. The second half of the book draws in adults, causing them to feel both the sadness of missing a far-off relative and the joy of reuniting with them. Without ever saying "I love you," both Diego and his grandfather teach us in a few short words that love between family members is what really matters, and can transcend all barriers. When Little Diego finally gets to see Papa Diego, it is the best day of his life.

Even though it is long for a picture book, A Gift From Papa Diego can be read aloud by an adult in as little as 20 minutes. If your story time is shorter than that, breaking it into segments is easy. There are several logical stopping places that provide suspense for the next reading session. A wonderful story and excellent bilingual text in side-by-side format!

The book tells the story of a young boy living in El Paso,Tx who misses his beloved grandfather who lives across the border in Chihuahua,Mexico. This book touches the heart as few others do. It is both touching and funny. My students loved its message that the best gifts are those from the heart. It was great to have a story set in their own hometown! The illustrator's use of clay really awed my students and encouraged them to try it instead of drawing. They thought the 3-dimensional aspects brought the characters to life!

I was given this book as gift for my son and wound up using it for my daughter and I LOVE IT!!! It is so easy to take the photo each year and make remarks for each of the following: Vital Statistics, My Friends and Favorites and Special Moments and Accomplishments. Each year has a really precious quote. My only drawback is the pictures have to go the same way, horizontal, every year, instead of having the option to do a horizontal or vertical photo. The first entry you get to make is on the day your baby is born. That page is much more detailed setting you up for each year. I look forward to filling it in every year. Throughout the year I put sticky's on the upcoming year when she does something I want to remark about for her accomplishments. You won't be sorry you bought this book! And it has beautiful illustrations...

This book is a scrapbook for your child or loved one. It offers a 2 pages per year - up to the 21st birthday. The left hand page is a page to put a picture of the person at that particular time and the opposite page is to right down the particulars of that person for that period in time. Included on that page are places for vital statistics, friends and favorites and special moments and accomplishments. This is an excellent book for parents to collect and save their childrens memories and moments. It is beautifully decorated and offers an excellent memory maker for a special person in your life. As a new mom, I plan on keeping this book for my son and presenting it to him on his 21st birthday. Hopefully it will mean as much to him as I know it will be to me. Thank you for making it easy to keep a scrapbook of my baby.

I love this book! It is beautifully illustrated, and so simple to complete. I bought this when my daughter was born, and look forward to filling out a new page each year. I also have the Wedding Anniversary Book which is a wonderful keepsake for us. This book would be an awesome gift. I hope it isn't out of print- I want to be able to buy it for my future children too!

Our son (soon to be 2 years old)loves this book. His birthday approaches, so he is excited to hear about birthdays in general. He has also been to a number of other parties recently, which helps. All in all a very happy book.

My 3 year old grandson loves to come in and sit on Nana's lap to read "Jesse Bear Books" They keep him occupied and also calms him down before sleep. A great book!!

Again this series of Jesse Bear books are wonderful to read and fun for my grandson! One of the best thing in life are opening the doors to reading to your children/grandchildren.

It's been a long time since I enjoyed a book about cats that I can give to friends of mine that are older than 6 - much older than 6. I think this is one of those rare books that adults and children will love. While I admit, I am partial to cats, even my dog loving friends will find this book a real treat. I can't wait until I get compliments on my taste after I've given this book as a present to my friends. The authors and their companion are marvelous.

This is a wonderfully imaginative and insightful look at the world of a cat through the eyes of a human. Don and Noriko Carroll have captured the essence of mischief and adventure of what we love about cats! The funny tales and the sweet family (Mama and Papa and Birthday) are enjoyable to read and even more beautiful to look at. A great book for kids, adults and cat-lovers of all ages!

Birthday, the cat, is a charming character whose adventures are irresistible! Birthday's sense of humor and adorable antics will bring joy to any reader. Her take on the aspects of our world that we may sometimes take for granted such as a romp on the beach, a meeting in the park, or simply a beautiful sky, will brighten every readers day. I found myself chuckling through many of the stories, and captivated by Don and Noriko Carroll's gorgeous photography. This is a fabulous book for adults, children and anyone who has ever loved a pet. In addition, the glimmering images make this book a fixture for the coffee table and an excellent gift! I never get tired of Birthday's world, and I'm delighted to have this book in my collection.

We checked this book out so many times at the library, we bought copies for us and to give as birthday gifts. Sweet story about cooperation of making cake and celebrating! I love Helen Oxenbury's soft watercolor illustrations - another great choice is "Going on a Bear Hunt"

It is funny that the description of this book online says the main character is a boy, when in fact the author leaves the gender to be decided by the reader. My children (3 boys & 1 girl) love this book, and no one ever says anything about boy or girl. We have given this book many times as a birthday gift and have always had rave reviews for it. Highly reccommed for every house with children!

It's interesting that some reviewers identify the child as aboy, when the author has in fact written and illustratied this storyto be gender-neutral. The child (and animals, for that matter) can be either male or female -- and that was the author's intention, as described in a note in the book. When the main characters in so many children's books are male for no reason other than the fact that Male is the default gender in our world, how nice for girls to be able to see themselves in the main character of this story (and how nice for parents to not have to change names and pronouns to provide a more balanced perspective when reading to our children).