Ten rules of the birthday wish by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld

Periodically, people come in and ask for birthday books. I have a couple, but nothing that I really, really like (feel free to recommend your own favorite birthday books but I'm kind of grumpy as I write this and I don't promise to like them.) However, I think this may be the best birthday book ever.

In this exuberant, colorful book, a series of cheerful animals in Lichtenheld's inimitable style march through the rules. You must have a birthday, a party, a cake, some candles... unless, of course, you're a camel! Or a puffer fish! There are, naturally, exceptions. The excitement builds until the saying of the wish, then is followed by a quiet reflection as the wisher drifts off to sleep, dreaming of their wish.

This is a very traditionalist view of birthdays; it insists on some kind of treat, a light that can be blown out (whales are encouraged to try glowing jellyfish), and a wish with the expectation that it just might come true. Lichtenheld's illustrations shows a cute bevy of cartoon animals from a furry bear sleeping peacefully in bed at the end to a partying group of bugs playing "pin the stinger on the human." There's room for deviation though, as Ferry reminds readers that it's ok to combine rules, have your own treat, or get friends to help!

This is exactly what my patrons are looking for; it's mildly humorous, walks readers through a pretty typical birthday celebration in my area, and gently coaxes readers down from their sugar and excitement buzz to a peaceful sleep.

Verdict: Sure to circulate briskly, this is a sweet, funny, and accessible book on birthdays. I suggest multiple copies.

ISBN: 9781524741549; Published February 2019 by Putnam; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library